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Copyright, 1914, by Mrs. J. E. B. Stuart 



,:::^^^^Y^£. 



General Stuart in 1854, from an ambrotype owned by Mrs. J. E. B. 
Stuart, which is here reproduced for the first time. 



LIFE OF 



J. E. B.STUART 



I BY 

I MARY L. WILLIAMSON 

{ Author of Life of Lee, Life of Jackson, and Life of Washington 



EDITED AND ARRANGED FOR SCHOOL USE 
BY 

E. O. WIGGINS 

English Department, Lynchburg High School, Virginia 



11^' 




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* • ' (llopyright, 1914 

BY 

B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY 



2)GLA387532 

NOV 14 1914 



PREFACE 

Some years ago, to fill what appeared to me a need in 
our literature for children, I made a study of the lives and 
campaigns of General R. E. Lee and of General Stonewall 
Jackson and prepared, for very young readers, histories 
of those great commanders. 

In performing these tasks, I became interested in the 
combats and maneuvers of General Lee's chief of cavalry, 
Major-General J. E. B. Stuart, who has been justly called 
''the eyes and ears of Lee." As the years go by, I find 
no book in print recounting to children his wonderful 
feats and valorous service, or explaining to them the part 
plaj^ed in the battles of Lee and Jackson by the Stuart 
Cavalry Corps and Horse Artillery whose exploits hold a 
brilliant place in modern military tactics. 

To make good this omission, I have prepared this little 
life of Stuart, in the hope that it w ill not only pass on the 
story of military deeds as captivating as any in history, 
but warm the hearts of rising generations to lives of 
courage and devotion. 

In the later stages of my work, Miss Evelina O. Wiggins 
has been associated, contributing various materials, ob- 
taining three pictures and several interesting letters of 
General Stuart's, and making available Mrs. J. E. B. 
Stuart's criticism of the manuscript. Miss Wiggins has 
also rendered the aid of adapting the book to the practi- 
cal needs of the schoolroom. Her experience and posi- 
tion as a teacher make the latter service highly valuable. 

MARY LYNN WILLIAMSON 

New Market, Virginia 

September 1, 1914 

[ 3 ] 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The publishers wish to acknowledge their obliga- 
tions to Mrs. H. B. McClellan for permission to use 
material from her husband's book, Life and Cam- 
paigns of General J. E. B. Stuart; to General T. T. 
Munford and to Judge Theodore S. Garnett for 
information and pictures; to Mr. J. E. B. Stuart and 
the Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va., for per- 
mission to make photographic copies of the personal 
rehcs of General Stuart in the Museum ; and to Mrs. 
J. E. B. Stuart for the ambrotype and letters of 
General Stuart which she allowed to be copied for 
use in this book and for the invaluable aid of her 
careful critical reading of the manuscript. 



[4] 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface 3 

List of Maps and Illustrations 6 

List of Books 8 

Introduction 9 

Chapter I Youthful Days _ 13 

Chapter II A Lieutenant in the United States 

Cavalry 22 

Chapter III A Colonel of Confederate Cavalry. 34 

Chapter IV A Brigadier General: The Peninsu- 
lar Campaign and the Chickahom- 

iny Raid 44 

Chapter V A Major General: Camp Life and 

the Second Battle of Manassas 68 

Chapter VI The Maryland Campaign 80 

Chapter VII The Chambersburg Raid 94 

Chapter VIII The Cavalry at Culpeper and Fred- 
ericksburg 109 

Chapter IX Chancellorsville 124 

Chapter X The Battle of Brandy Station 139 

Chapter XI The Gettysburg Campaign 151 

Chapter XII Final CampaigTis and Death 167 

ChapterXIII Some Tributes to Stuart 191 

Suggestive Questions 203 

The Organization of an Army 210 

Word List 211 



[ 5 1 



LIST OF 
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

General Stuart in 1854 Frontispiece 

Ruins of Liberty Hall Academy 14 

Emory and Henry College about 1850 .._. 17 

J. E. B. Stuart when a Student at West Point 19 

Badge of West Point Graduates 20 

Carrying the Gun down the 'Mulepath'... 23 

Indians of the Plains 29 

Arsenal at Harper's Ferry 31 

Picketed Cavalry Horse 41 

Stuart's Gauntlets 44 

Stuart's Cavalry Boots :.... 45 

Map of the Chickahominy Raid 53 

The Burial of Latane _ 55 

The Chickahominy River 58 

Ruins of Railroad Bridge across Pamunkey River.. 63 
Facsimile of Page of Letter from General Stuart to 

his Wife 72 

Catlett's Station 74 

Major Heros Von Borcke 82 

Map Showing the Routes of Stuart's Cavalry in 
Gettj^sburg Campaign and Chambersburg 

Raid... :.... 95 

Stuart's Sword 98 

Stuart's Pistol. 99 

Stuart's Carbine 99 

General Stuart in 1862.. 107 

[ 6 ] 



LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS 7 

PAGE 

Major John Pelham 110 

Confederates Destroying Railroad 119 

Federals Repairing Railroad which Confederates 

had Destroyed 121 

A Pontoon Bridge..... : 128 

General Stonewall Jackson.. 135 

Map of Battle of Brandy Station 143 

The Battle of Brandy Station. 145 

A Federal Wagon Park 155 

The Toll of War 160 

The House in which St\iart died 186 

Monument in Hollywood.. 196 

Monument at Yellow Tavern... 198 

Stuart Statue, Richmond 201 



LIST OF BOOKS 

For Reference and Teachers' Use 

H. B. McClellan: Life and Campaigns of General J. E. B. 

Stuart 
Heros Von Borcke: Memoirs of the War for Confederate 

Independence 
John S. Mosby : Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry 
George M. Neese: Three Years in the Confederate Horse 

Artillery 
Theodore S. Garnett: Major-Gencral J. E. B. Stuart 
G. F. R. Henderson: Stonewall Jackson and the American 

Civil War 
Gamahel Bradford: Confederate Portraits 
John Esten Cooke : Surry of Eagle's Nest 
J. Wihiam Jones: Christ in the Camp, or Religion in 

Lee's Army 
Southern Historical Society Papers, — 

Vol. 1, pp. 99-103; Address by Fitzhugh Lee 

Vol.8, pp. 434-'56; Character Sketch by H. B. 
McClellan 

Vol. 37, pp. 210-'31; Stuart at Gettysburg by R. H. 
McKim 

See also other articles on Stuart in the Southern 
Historical Papers. 



[8 ] 



INTRODUCTION 

Henry of Navarre was a famous French king 
who led his forces to a glorious victory in a 
civil war. An English writer, Lord Macaulay, 
wrote a stirring poem in w^hich a French soldier 
is represented as describing this battle. Here is 
his picture of the great, beloved king: — 

"The King is come to marshal us, in all his armor drest, 
And he has bomid a snow-white plume upon his gallant 

crest. 
He looked upon his people and a tear was in his eye, 
He looked upon the traitors and his glance was stern and 

high; 
Right graciously he smiled on us, as rolled from wing to 

wing, 
Down all our line a deafening shout, 'God save our lord, 

the King!' 

" And if my standard bearer fall, — as fall full well he may, 
For never saw I promise yet of such a bloody fray — 
Press where you see my white plume shine amidst the 

ranks of war. 
And be your oriflamme to-day the helmet of Navarre.' 

'A thousand spurs are striking deep, a thousand spears 
in rest, 

A thousand knights are pressing close behind the snow- 
white crest; 

And in they burst and on they rushed, while like a 
guiding star. 

Amidst the thickest carnage blazed the helmet of 
Navarre." 



10 INTRODUCTION 

These lines about the Fre'nch king of the 
sixteenth century are often quoted in describing 
a gallant cavalry leader of our own country. 
As we read them, we see the Confederate general, 
^^Jeb" Stuart, his cavalry hat looped back on 
one side with a long black ostrich plume which 
his troopers always saw in the forefront of the 
charge. His men would follow that plume 
anywhere, at any time, and v/hen you read this 
story of his life, you will not wonder that he 
inspired their absolute devotion. 

You have read about the lives of the peerless 
commander. General Robert E. Lee, and his 
great lieutenant. General StonewallJackson. In 
these you have learned something about the 
movem.ents of the great body of our army, the 
infantry; but the infantr}^, even with such able 
com.manders as Lee and Jackson, needed the 
aid of the cavalry and the artiller^^ It is with 
these two latter divisions of the army that we 
deal in studying the life of General Stuart. As 
chief of cavalry and commander of the famous 
Stuart Horse Artillery, he served as eyes and 
ears to the commanding generals. He kept 
them informed about the location and move- 
ments of the Federals, screened the location 
of the Confederate troops, felt the way, pro- 
tected the flank and rear when the army was on 



INTRODUCTION 11 

the march, and made quick raids into the 
Federal territory or around their army to 
secure sappHes and information as well as to 
mislead them concerning the proposed move- 
ments of Confederate forces. A heavy re- 
sponsibility rested on the cavalry, and General 
Stuart and his men were engaged in many small 
but severe battles and skirmishes in which the 
army as a whole did not take part. 



"To horse, to horse! the sabers gleam. j 
High soimcls our hiigle call, 
Comhiiied by honoris sacred tie, 
Our watchword, 'laivs and liberty^ 
Fonoard to do or die.'* 

— Sir VrALTER Scott 



[ 12 ] 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



CHAPTER I 

YOUTHFUL DAYS 

1833-^54 

James Ewell Brown Stuart, commonly known 
as ^^Jeb'' Stuart from the first three initials of 
his name, was born in Patrick comity, Virginia, 
February 6, 1833. On each side of his family, 
he could point to a line of ancestors w^ho had 
seiA^ed their country well in war and peace 
and from w^hom he inherited his high ideals of 
duty, patriotism, and religion. 

He was of Scotch descent and his ancestors 
belonged to a clan of note in the history of 
Scotland. From Scotland a member of this 
clan went to Ireland. 

About the year 1726, Jeb Stuart's great- 
great-grandfather, Archibald Stuart, fled from 
Londonderry, Ireland, to the wilds of Pennsyl- 
vania, in order to escape religious persecution, 

[ 13] 



14 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



Eleven years later, he removed from Pennsyl- 
vania to Augusta county, Virginia, where he 
became a large land-holder. At Tinkling Spring 
Church, the graves of the immigrant and his 
wife may still be seen. 

Archibald Stuart's second son, Alexander, 

joined the Conti- 
nental army and 
fought with signal 
bravery during the 
whole of the War of 
the Revolution. 
After the war, he 
practiced law. He 
showed his interest 
in education by be- 
coming one of the 
founders of Liberty 
Hall, at Lexington, 
Virginia, a school whicn afterwards became 
Washington College and has now grown into 
Washington and Lee University. 

His youngest son who bore his name, was also 
a lawyer ; he held positions of trust in his native 
State, Virginia, as well as in Illinois and Missouri 
where he held the responsible and honored 
position of a United States judge. 

Our general's father, Archibald Stuart, the 




RUINS OF LIBERTY HALL ACADEMY, AT 
LEXINGTON, VA. 



YOUTHFUL DAYB 15 

son of Judge Stuart, after a brief military 
career in the War of 1812, became a successful 
lawyer. His wit and eloquence soon won him 
distinction, and his district sent him as repre- 
sentative to the Congress of the United States 
where he served four years. 

There is an interesting story told about 
General Stuart's mother's grandfather, William 
Letcher. lie had enraged the Loyalists, or 
Tories, on the North Carolina border, by a 
defeat that he and a little compan}^ of volun- 
teers had inflicted on them in the War of the 
Revolution. One da}^ in June, 1780, as Mrs. 
Letcher was alone at home with her baby girl, 
only six weeks old, a stranger, dressed as a 
hunter and carrying a gun in his hand, appeared 
at the door and asked for Letcher. While his 
wife was explaining that he would be at home 
in a short time, he entered and asked the man 
to be seated. 

The latter, however, raised his gun, saying: 
^^I demand you in the name of the king." 

When Letcher tried to seize the gun, the Tory 
fired and the patriot fell mortally wounded, in 
the presence of his young wife and babe. 

Bethenia Letcher, the tiny fatherless babe, 
grew to womanhood and married David Pannill; 
and her daughter, EUzabeth Letcher Pannill, 



16 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

married Archibald Stuart, the father of our 
hero. 

Mrs. Archibald Stuart inherited from her 
grandfather, William Letcher, a large estate in 
Patrick county. The place, commanding fine 
views of the Blue Ridge mountains, was called 
Laurel Hill, and here in a comfortable old man- 
sion set amid a grove of oak trees, Jeb Stuart 
was born" and spent the earlier years of his 
bo^diood. 

Mrs. Stuart was a great lover of flowers and 
surrounding the house was a beautiful old- 
fashioned flower garden, where Jeb, who loved 
flowers as much as his mother did, spent many 
happy days. He always loved this boyhood 
home and often thought of it during the hard 
and stirring years of war. Once near the close 
of the w^ar, he told his brother that he would like 
nothing better, when the long struggle was at 
an end, than to go back to the old home and live 
a quiet, peaceful life. 

When Jeb was fourteen years old, he was sent 
to school in Wytheville, and in 1848 he entered 
Emor}^ and Henry College. Here, under the 
influence of a religious revival, he joined the 
Methodist church, but about ten years later 
he became a member of the Episcopal church 
of which his wife was a member. 



YOUTHFUL DAYS 



17 



Though always gay and high-spirited, Stuart 
even as a boy possessed a deep reUgious senti- 
ment which grew in strength as he grew in 
years and kept his heart pure and his hands 
clean through the many temptations that beset 
him in the freedom and conviviality of army 
life. A promise that he made his mother never 
to taste strong drink was kept faithfully to his 




EMORY AND HENRY COLLEGE ABOUT 1850 

death, and none of his soldiers ever heard him 
use an oath even in the heat of battle. His 
gallantry, boldness, and continual gayety and 
good nature, coupled with his high Christian 
virtues, caused all who came in contact with 
him not only to love but to respect and admire 
him. 

He left Emory and Henry College in 1850 
and entered the United States Military Academy 



18 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

at West Point where he had received an ap- 
pointment. 

At this time, Colonel Robert E. Lee was 
superintendent at West Point. Young Stuart 
spent many pleasant hours at the home of the 
superintendent where he was a great favorite 
with the ladies of the family. Custis Lee, the 
eldest son of Colonel Lee, w^as Stuart's best 
friend while he was a student at the Academy. 

An interesting incident is told about Stuart 
while he w^as on a vacation from West Point. 
Mr. Benjamin B. Minor of Richmond, had a 
case to iDe tried at Williamsburg, and when he 
arrived at the hotel it was so crowded that he 
was put in an ^ ^omnibus" room, so called 
because it contained three double beds. 

Late in the afternoon when the stage drove 
up, he saw three young cadets step from it and 
he soon found that they were to share with him 
the '^omnibus" room. 

He went to bed early, but put a lamp on the 
table by the head of his bed and got out his 
papers to go over his case. After awhile the 
three cadets came in laughing and singing, and 
soon they were all three piled into one bed 
where they continued to laugh and joke in 
uproarious spirits. 

Finally one of them said, ^^See here, fellows. 



YOUTHFUL DAYS 



19 



we have had our fun long enough and we are 
disturbing that gentleman over there; let us 
hush up and go to sleep." 

''No need for that, boys," said Mr. Minor, 
^'I have just finished." 

Then as he tells us he 'pitched in^ and had a 
good time with them. 

The cadet who had shown such thoughtful- 
ness and courtesy 
was young Jeb 
Stuart who as Mr. 
JMinor discovered 
was one of his 
wife's cousins. He 
was very much 
pleased with the 
boy and invited 
him to come to 
Richmond. Stuart 
accepted the invi- 
tation and called 
several times at 
the Minor home. 

He explained to 
Mr. Minor his plan for an invention which was 
to be called "Stuart's hghtning horse-hitcher" 
and to be used in Indian raids. He excited Mr. 
Minor's admiration because he had such gallant 




From daguerreotype in Confederate Museum, 
Richmond, Va. 

J. E. B. STUART 
When a student at West Point 



20 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



and genial courtesy and professional pride. He 
wanted even then to accomplish something use- 
ful and important to his country and himself. 

General Fitzhugh Lee, who was at West Point 
with Stuart, and who later served under General 
Stuart as a trusted commander, tells us that as 
a cadet he was remarkable 
for ^ ^strict attendance to 
military duties, and erect, 
soldierly bearing, an imme- 
diate and almost thankful 
acceptance of a challenge to 
fight any cadet who might 
in any way feel himself ag- 
grieved, and a clear, metal- 
lic, ringing voice." 

Although the boys called 
him a ^^ Bible class man" 
and ''Beauty Stuart," it 
was in good-natured boyish 
teasing; where he felt it to 
be intended differently or 




BADGE OF WEST POINT 
GRADUATES 

The arms of the United States 
Academy, suspended by a ribbon 

°birS„|X5aiJ?tU'g"/. where his high standards 

uate's class . i j i 

of conduct seemed to be 
sneered at, he was well able with his quick 
temper and superb physical strength to teach 
the offender a lesson. 

As Titz' Lee tells us, Stuart was always 



YOUTHFUL DAYS ^1 

ready to accept a challenge, but he did not 
fight without good cause, and his father,a fair- 
minded and intelligent man, approved of his 
son's course in these fisticuff encounters. Be- 
tween his father and himself there was the best 
kind of comradeship and sympathy, and young 
Stuart was always ready to consult his father 
before taking any important step in life. The 
decision as to what he should do when he 
left West Point, however, was left to him, and 
just after his graduation he wrote home that 
he had decided to enter the regular army 
instead of becoming a lawyer. 

^^Each profession has its labors and rewards," 
he wrote, ^^and in making the selection I shall 
rely upon Him whose judgment cannot err, 
for it is not with the man that walketh to 
direct his steps." 

Meanwhile, by his daring and skill in horse- 
manship, his diligence in his studies, and his 
ability to command, he had risen rapidly from 
the position of corporal to that of captain, and 
then to the rank of cavalry sergeant which is 
the highest rank in that arm of the service at 
West Point. He graduated thirteenth in a 
class of forty-six, and started his brief but 
brilliant military career well equipped with 
youth, courage, skill, and a firm reliance on 
the love and wisdom of God. 



CHAPTER II 

A LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES 
CAVALRY 

1854-'G1 

Most of Stuart's time from his graduation at 
West Point until the outbreak of the War of 
Secession was spent in military service along the 
southern and western .borders of our country. 
During this period, there was almost constant 
warfare between Indians and frontier settlers. 
Stuart had many interesting adventures in 
helping to protect the settlers and to drive the 
Indians back into their own territory. The 
training that he received at this time helped 
to develop him into a great cavalry and artillery 
leader. 

The autumn after he left West Point, Stuart 
was commissioned second lieutenant in a regi- 
ment of mounted riflemen on duty in western 
Texas. He reached Fort Clark in December, 
just in time to join an expedition against the 
Apache Indians who had been giving the 
settlers a great deal of trouble. The small force 

[ 22 1 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 



23 



to which he was attached pushed boldly into 
the Indian country north of the Rio Grande. 
It was not long before the young officer's 
skill and determination received a severe test. 
The trail that the expedition followed led to 
the top of a steep . 
and rugged ridge 
which to the troop- 
ers' astonishment 
dropped abruptly 
two thousand feet 
to an extensive val- 
ley. The precipice 
formed of huge col- 
umns of vertical 
rock, at first seemed 
impassable, but they 
soon found a narrow 
and dangerous In- 
dian trail— the kind 
that is called a ^m.ule- 
path'^ — -winding to 
the base of the 
mighty cliff. The 
officers and advance guard dismounted and led 
their horses down the steep path that scarcely 
afforded footing for a m.an and passed on to 
choose a bivouac for the night. A little later, 








"m^ .s 



carrying the gun down the 
'mulepath' 



24 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Lieutenant Stuart, with a rear guard of fifty 
rangers detailed to assist him, reached the top 
of the ridge, with their single piece of artil- 
lery. Stuart worked his w^ay down the trail 
alone, hoping that when he reached the foot 
he would find that the major in charge of the ex- 
pedition had left word that the gun was to be 
abandoned as it seemed impossible to carry it 
down the precipice. No such order awaited him, 
however, and the young officer determined to get 
the gun down in spite of all difficulties. He noted 
well the dangers of the way as he regained the 
top and, having had the mules unhitched and led 
down b}^ some of the men, he unlimbered the 
gun and started the captain of the rangers 
and twenty-five men down with the limber. He 
himself took charge of the gun and, with the 
help of the remaining m^en, lifted it over huge 
rocks and lowered it by lariat ropes over im- 
passable places until it was finally brought 
safely to the valley below. 

The major had taken it for granted that 
Stuart would leave the gun at the top of the 
precipice and was amazed when just at supper 
time it was brought safely into camp. Such 
ingenuity, grit, and determination were qualities 
which promised that the young officer would 
develop into a skillful and reliable leader, 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 25 

A few days later, the command encamped 
for the night in a narrow valley between high 
ridges. The camp fires were burning brightly 
and the cooks were preparing supper when a 
sudden violent gust of wind swept through the 
valley and scattering the fire set the whole 
prairie into a moving flame. With such rapidity 
did the fire sweep over the camp that the men 
were unable to save anything except their 
horses, and in a deplorable condition the ex- 
pedition was forced to return to the camp in 
Texas. 

In May, 1855, Stuart was transferred to the 
First Regiment of cavalry, with the rank of 
second lieutenant. In July, this regiment was 
ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and in 
September, it went on a raid, under the leader- 
ship of Colonel E. Y. Sumner, against some 
Indiang who had disturbed the white settlers. 
The savages retreated to their mountain strong- 
holds and the regiment returned to the fort 
without fighting. 

While on this expedition, Stuart learned with 
deep distress of the death of his wise and 
affectionate father. It had been only a few 
weeks before that Mr. Stuart had written to 
approve his son's marriage to Miss Flora Cooke, 
daughter of Colonel Phihp St. George Cooke 



26 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

who was commandant at Fort Riley. The 
marriage was celebrated at that place, Novem- 
ber 14, 1855. 

At this time, there was serious trouble in 
Kansas between the two political parties that 
were fighting to decide whether Kansas should 
become a free or a slave state. Stuart, who 
had been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, 
was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in 1856-'57. 
Here he was involved in many skirmishes and 
local raids. It was at this time that he en- 
countered the outlaw ^^Ossawatomie" Brown of 
whom we shall hear again a little later. 

Stuart passed uninjured through the Kansas 
contest, and in 1857 entered upon another 
Indian war against the Chej^enne warriors who 
were attacking the western settlers. In the chief 
battle of this campaign, the Indians were 
routed, but Lieutenant Stuart was wounded 
while rescuing a brother officer who was at- 
tacked by an Indian. 

Here is Stuart's own account of the fight as 
given in a letter to his wife, which she has 
kindly allowed us to copy: 

'^Yery few of the company horses were fleet 
enough after the march, besides my own Brave 
Dan, to keep in reach of the Indians mounted 
on fresh ponies As long as Dan 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 27 

held out I was foremost, but after a chase of 
five miles he failed and I had to mount a 
private's horse and continue the pursuit. 

^^When I overtook the rear of the enemy 
again, I found Lomax in imminent danger from 
an Indian who was on foot and in the act of 
shooting him. I rushed to the rescue, and 
succeeded in firing at him in time, wounding 
him in his thigh. He fired at me in return with 
an Allen's revolver, but missed. My shots 
were now exhausted, and I called on some men 
approaching to rush up with their pistols and 
kill him. They rushed up, but fired without 
hitting. 

''About this time T observed Stanle}^ and 
Mclntyre close by; the former said, 'Wait, 
ril fetch him,' and dismounted from his horse 
so as to aim deliberately, but in dismounting, 
his pistol accidentally discharged the last load 
he had. He began, however, to snap the empty 
barrels at the Indian who was walking deliberate- 
ly up to him with his revolver pointed. 

"I could not stand that, but drawing my 
saber rushed on the monster, inflicting a severe 
wound across his head, that I think would have 
severed any other man's, but simultaneous with 
that he fired his last barrel within a foot of me, 
the ball taking effect in the breast, but by the 



28 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

mercy of God glancing to the left and lodging 
so far inside that it cannot be felt. T rejoice 
to inform you that it is not regarded as at all 
fatal or dangerous, though I may be confined 
to my bed for weeks.'' 

After this battle, all of the force pursued the 
Indians, except a small detachment under 
Captain Foote, which was left behind to guard 
the wounded for whom the surgeon established 
rough hospital quarters on the banks of a 
beautiful, winding creek. Here Stuart spent 
nearly a week confined to his cot, and as he 
wrote his wife at the time, the only books that 
he had to read during the long, weary days 
were his Prayer Book — which was not neglected 
— and his Army Regulations. A few pages of 
Harper^ s Weekly that some one happened to 
have were considered quite a treasure. 

At the end of about ten days, some Pawnee 
guides who had been attached to the expedi- 
tion brought orders for this little detachment 
to leave the camp where it was exposed to attacks 
from the wandering bands of Cheyenne Indians 
and go back to Fort Kearny a hundred miles 
away. 

Stuart was just able to sit on his horse again, 
yet we shall see that in spite of his wound he 
was the life and salvation of the little party. 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 29 

The Pawnees said they were only four days 
distant from the fort, but the second day these 
unreUable guides deserted and the soldiers were 
lost in a heavy fog, without a compass. They 
were forced to depend on a Cheyenne prisoner 
for information. After four days' fruitless and 
difficult marching through the forest, Stuart, 
who believed that the guard was willfull}^ mis- 
leading them, volunteered to go ahead with a 
small force, find the fort, and send back help 
for those who were still suffering too seriously 




From McClure's Magazine 
INDIANS OF THE PLAINS 

from their wounds to kee}) u}) on a rapid and 
uncertain march. 

After many dangers and deep anxiety on his 
part, taking his course by the stars when the 
fog lifted at night and working his way through 
it as best he could by day, he finall}^ reached 
Fort Kearny. The Pawnees had come in three 
days before, and scouting parties had been 
searching for Captain Foote's command about 



30 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

which much anxiety was felt. Help was im- 
mediately sent them, and as a result of Stuart's 
indomitable will and able services, the little 
party was rescued and brought safely to the fort. 

From the autumn of 1857 until the summer of 
1860, Stuart w^as stationed at Fort Riley. 
During these three years, there were few skir- 
mishes with the Indians and Stuart had leisure 
to perfect the invention of a saber attachment 
that he had been thinking of ever since his 
student days at West Point. This invention 
was bought and patented by the government in 
October, 1859, while the inventor was on leave 
of absence in Virginia, visiting his mother and 
his friends. 

It was on the night of the sixteenth of this 
same October that a band of twenty men, under 
the leadership of John Brown, seized the United 
States arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Brown was a 
fanatic who believed that all slaves should be 
set free and who had taken an active part in 
the recent disturbances in Kansas. After 
seizing the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, he sent 
out his followers during the night to arrest 
certain citizens and to call to arms the slaves 
on the surrounding plantations. About sixty 
citizens were arrested and imprisoned in the 
engine house, within the confines of the armory, 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 



31 



-f^ 




but the slaves, either through fear or through 
distrust of Brown and his schemes, refused to 
obey his summons. 

The next morning as soon as news of the 
seizure of Harper's Ferry spread over the 
country, armed men came against Brown from 
all directions. Before night he and his followers 
took refuge in the engine house, but it was so 
crowded that he 
was obliged to 
release all but 
ten of his pris- 
oners. 

When the 
news of Brown's 
raid was tele- 
graphed to 
Washington, 
Lieutenant Stu- 
art, who was at the capital attending to the sale 
of his patent saber attachment, was requested to 
bear a secret order to Lieutenant-Colonel Robert 
E. Lee, his old superintendent at West Point, 
who was then at his home, Arlington, near 
Washington city. Stuart learned that Colonel 
Lee had been ordered to command the marines 
who were being sent to suppress the insurrec- 
tion at Harper's Ferry, and he at once offered 



i 


&: 


' 1 



ARSENAL AT HARPER .S FERRY 



32 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

to act as aid-de-camp. 'Colonel, Lee, who 
remembered Stuart well as a cadet, immediately 
accepted his offer of service. 

Upon arriving at Harper's Ferry on the night 
of October 17, they found that John Brown and 
his men were still in the engine house, defying 
•the citizen soldiers who surrounded the building. 
Colonel Lee proceeded to surround the engine 
house with the marines; at daylight, wishing 
to avoid bloodshed, he sent Lieutenant Stuart 
to demand the surrender of the fanatical men, 
promising to protect them from the fury of the 
citizens until he could give them up to the 
United States government. 

When Lieutenant Stuart advanced to the 
parley. Brown, who had assumed the name of 
Smith, opened the door four or five inches only, 
placed his body against it, and held a loaded 
carbine in such a position that, as he stated 
afterward, he might have ^^ wiped Stuart out 
like a mosquito." Immediately the young 
officer recognized in the so-called Smith the 
identical John, or ^^Ossawatomie," Brown who 
had caused so much trouble in Kansas. Brown 
refused Colonel Lee's terms and demanded 
permission to march out v/ith his men and 
prisoners and proceed as far as the second toll- 
gate. Here, he declared, he would free his 



A LIEUTENANT IN U. S. CAVALRY 33 

prisoners and if Colonel Lee wished to pursue 
he would fight to the bitter end. 

Stuart said that these terms could not be 
accepted and urged him to surrender at once. 
When Brown refused, Stuart waved his cap, the 
signal agreed upon, and the marines advanced, 
battered down the doors, and engaged in a hand- 
to-hand fight with the insurgents. Ten of 
Brown's men were killed by the marines and all 
the rest, including Brown himself, were wounded. 

That same day. Lieutenant Stuart, under 
Colonel Lee's orders, went to a farm about four 
miles and a half away that Brown had rented 
and brought back a number of pikes with which 
Brown had intended to arm the negroes. 
Colonel Lee was then ordered back to Washing- 
ton and Stuart went with him. John Brown 
and seven of his men were tried, were found 
guilty of treason, and were hanged. 

The John Brown Raid cast a great gloom over 
the country. While many people in the North 
regarded Brown as a martyr to the cause of 
emancipation, the southern people were justly 
indignant at the thought that their lives and 
property were no longer safe from the plots of 
the Abolition party which Brown had repre- 
sented. The bitter feelings aroused b}^ this 
affair culminated, in 1861, in the bloody W^ar of 
Secession. 



CHAPTER III 

A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE 
CAVALRY 

1861 

There seems to have been no doubt in the 
mind of Lieutenant Stuart as to what he should 
do in the event of Virginia's withdrawal from 
the Union. As soon as he heard that the Old 
Dominion had seceded, he forwarded to the War 
Department his resignation as an officer in the 
United States army, and hastening to Rich- 
mond, he enlisted in the militia of his native 
state. Like most other southerners, he pre- 
ferred poverty and hardships in defense of the 
South to all the honors and wealth which the 
United States government could bestow. 

On May 10, 1861, Stuart was commissioned as 
lieutenant colonel of infantr^^, and was ordered 
to report to Colonel T. J. Jackson at Harper's 
Ferry. While he was at Harper's Ferry, Stuart 
organized several troops of cavalry to assist the 
infantry and he was soon transferred to this 
branch of the service. 

On May 15, General Joseph E. Johnston was 
sent by the Confederate government to take 

[ 24 1 



A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 35 

command of all the forces at Harper's Ferry; 
while Colonel Jackson, who had previously 
been in command of the place, was assigned 
charge of the Virginia regiments afterwards 
famous as the ^ ^Stonewall Brigade." General 
Johnston found that he was unable to hold the 
town against the advancing Federal force; so 
he destroyed the railway bridge and retired with 
his guns and stores to Bunker Hill, twelve miles 
from Winchester, where he offered battle to the 
Federals. They declined to fight and withdrew 
to the north bank of the Potomac river. 

When the Federals under General Patterson 
again crossed the river, General Jackson with 
his brigade was sent forward to support the 
cavalry under Stuart and to destroy the railway 
engines and cars at Martinsburg. Jackson then 
remained with his brigade near Martinsburg, 
while his front was protected by Colonel Stuart 
with a regiment of cavalry. 

On July 1, General Patterson advanced to- 
ward General Jackson, who went forward to 
meet him, with only the Fifth Regiment, several 
companies of cavalry, and one piece of artillery. 
The Confederate general posted his men behind 
a farm house and barn, and held back Patterson 
so well that he threw forward an entire division 
to overpower the small force of Jackson. The 



36 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

latter then fell back slowly to the main body 
of his troops, with the trifling loss of two men 
wounded and nine missing. 

While supporting Jackson in this first battle 
in the Shenandoah valley, known as the battle 
of Haines' Farm or Falling Waters, Colonel 
Stuart had a remarkable adventure. Ptiding 
alone in advance of his men, he came suddenly 
out of a piece of woods at a point where he 
could see a force of Federal infantr}^ on the other 
side of the fence. Without a moment's hesita- 
tion, he rode boldly forward and ordered the 
Federal soldiers to pull down the bars. 

They obeyed and he immediately rode through 
to the other side, and in peremptory tones said, 
"Throw down your arms or you are dead men." 

The raw troops were so overcome by Stuart's 
boldness and commanding tones that they 
obeyed at once and then marched as he directed 
through the gap in the fence. Before they 
recovered from their astonishment, Stuart had 
them surrounded by his own force which had 
come up in the meantime, thus capturing over 
forty men — almost an entire company. 

After some marching backward and forward. 
General Johnston retired to Winchester; while 
General Patterson moved farther south to Smith- 
field as if he intended to attack in that direc- 



A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 37 

tion. Stuart with his small force was now 
compelled to watch a front of over fifty miles, 
in order to report promptly the movements of 
the Federals, yet he did this so efficiently that 
later on when General Johnston was ordered 
west, he wrote to Stuart : 

^^How can I eat, sleep, or rest in peace, without 
you upon the outpost?^' 

General Johnston now received a call for help 
from General Beauregard who commanded a 
Confederate army of twenty thousand men at 
Manassas Junction. Beauregard was con- 
fronted by a Federal army of thirt3^-five thou- 
sand men, including nearly all of the United 
States regulars east of the Rocky Mountains. 
This army, commanded by General McDowell, 
was equipped with improved firearms and had 
fine uniforms, good tents, and everything that 
money could buy to make good soldiers. The 
North was very proud of this fine army and 
fully expected it to crush Beauregard and to 
sweep on to Richmond. 

Beauregard was indeed in danger. He had a 
smaller army and his infantry was armed, for 
the most part, with old-fashioned smooth-bore 
muskets, and his cavalry with sabers and shot- 
guns. One company of cavalry was armed only 
with the pikes of John Brown, which had 



38 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

been stored at Harper's Ferry. Beauregard 
stationed his forces in line of battle along the 
banks of Bull Run from the Stone Bridge to 
Union Mills, a distance of eight miles. On 
July 18, the Federals tried to force Blackburn's 
Ford on Bull Run, but were repulsed with 
heavy loss. Beauregard, knowing that the 
attack would be renewed the next day, sent a 
message to Johnston at Winchester, sixty miles 
away. 

"li you are going to help me, now is the 
time," was Beauregard's message. 

Two days before, Stuart had been transferred 
to the cavalry, with a commission as colonel, 
and he entered at once upon his arduous labors. 
At first he had in his command only twenty-one 
officers and three hundred and thirteen men, 
raw to military discipline and poorly armed 
with the guns they had used in hunting, but all 
were fine horsemen and good shots. 

General Johnston, leaving Stuart with a little 
band of troopers to conceal his movements, 
immediately commenced his march from Win- 
chester to Manassas. So skillfully did Colonel 
Stuart do his work that General Patterson was 
not aware of General Johnston's departure 
until Sunday, July 21, when the great battle 
of Manassas was fought. Owing to a col- 



A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 39 

lision which had blocked the railway, some 
of the infantry did not reach Manassas until 
near the close of the battle, but the cavalry and 
the artillery marched all the way and arrived 
in time to render effective service during the 
entire battle. 

It was at Manassas that General Jackson won 
his name of ^ ^Stonewall'' because of the wonder- 
ful stand that his brigade made, just when it 
seemed that the Federals were about to over- 
come the Confederates. But we are concerned 
particularly with the movements of the cavalry 
which rendered fine service, protecting each 
flank of the army. Colonel Stuart, with only 
two companies of cavalry, protected the left 
flank from assault after assault. At one time 
Stuart boldly charged the Federal right and 
drove back a company of Zouaves resplendent 
in their blue and scarlet uniforms and white 
turbans. 

General Early, who arrived on the field about 
three o^clock in the afternoon and assisted in 
iiolding the left flank, said, ''But for Stuart's 
presence there, I am of the opinion that my 
brigade would have arrived too late to be of any 
use. Stuart did as much toward saving the 
First Manassas as any subordinate who partici- 
pated in it.'' 



40 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

General Jackson, in his report of the battle, 
said: ^^Apprehensive lest my flanks be turned, 
I sent orders to Colonels Stuart and Radford of 
the cavalry to secure them. Colonel Stuart 
and that part of his command with him deserve 
great praise for the promptness with which they 
moved to my left and secured my flank from the 
enemy, and by driving them back." 

Thus we see at the very crisis of the battle, 
Stuart with only a small force aided largely in 
gaining the great victory. When he saw the 
Federals fleeing from all parts of the field, he 
pursued them for twelve miles, taking many 
prisoners and securing much booty. 

After the battle of First Manassas, the main 
armies were inactive for many months; but the 
Confederate cavalry was kept busy in frequent 
skirmishes with the Federal pickets and in raids 
toward the Potomac river. Stuart took pos- 
session of Munson's Hill, near Washington, and 
for several weeks sent out his pickets within 
sight of the dome of the Capitol. 

In a letter from General F. E. Paxton, of the 
Stonewall Brigade, we find this interesting 
mention of Colonel Stuart and his life at the 
outpost: ^^Yesterda}" I was down the road 
about ten miles, and, from a hill in the pos- 
session of our troops, had a good view of the 



A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 41 



dome of the Capitol, some five or six miles 
distant. The city was not visible, because 
of the woods coming between. I saw the sen- 
tinel of the enemy in the field below me, and 
about half a mile off and not far on this side, 
our own sentinels. They fire sometimes at 
each other. Mrs. Stuart, wife of the colonel 





a^p c/ 




PICKETED CAVALRY HORSE 



who has charge of our outpost, visits him oc- 
casionally — having a room with friends a few 
miles inside the outpost. Whilst there looking 
at the Capitol, I saw two of his little children 
playing as carelessly as if they were at home. 
A dangerous place, you will think, for women 
and children," 

Mrs. Stuart, however, was a soldier's daughter 



42 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

and a soldier's wife, and she took advantage of 
every opportunity to be with her husband at 
his headquarters. During the beginning of the 
war, before the engagements wath the Federals 
became frequent, she was often able to be with 
her husband or to board at some home near 
which he was stationed. Although he was a 
favorite with women, there was no woman 
who, in General Stuart's eyes, could compare 
with his wife, and he was never happier than 
when with her and his children. When the 
general's duties compelled him to be away 
from her, two days seldom passed that Mrs. 
Stuart did not hear from him by letter or 
telegram. 

On September 11, Stuart's forces encountered 
a raiding party which was forced to retire w^ith 
a loss of two killed and thirteen wounded, while 
Stuart lost neither man nor horse. 

During the summer, Stuart had been ordered 
to report to General James Longstreet who 
commanded the advance of the Confederate 
army. 

General Longstreet in a letter to President 
Davis said of Stuart: ^^He is a rare man, 
wonderfully endowed by nature with the quali- 
ties necessary for an ofhcer of light cavalry. 
Calm, firm, acute, active, and enterprising, I 



A COLONEL OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 43 

know no one more competent than he to esti- 
mate events at their true value. If you add a 
brigade of cavalry to this army, you will find 
no better brigadier general to command it/' 



CHAPTER IV 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL: 

THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN AND THE 

CHICKAHOAIINY RAID 

1861-'62 

• 

On September 24, 1861, Stuart received his 
promotion as brigadier general. His brigade 
included four Virginia regiments, one North 

Carolina regiment, and 
the Jeff Davis Legion 
of Cavalry. These regi- 
ments were composed 
of high-spirited, brave 
young men who could 
ride dashingly and shoot 
with the skill of back- 
woodsmen, but w^ho 
were for the most part 
untrained in military 
affairs. Stuart, however, was an untiring drill- 
master and by his personal efforts he developed 
his brigade into a command of capable and 
devoted soldiers. 

The young general was not yet twenty-nine 
years old. He was of medium height, had 

[ 44] 




Stuart's gauntlets 

From originals in Confederate Museum 
Richmond, Va. 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 45 

winning blue eyes, long silken bronze beard 
and mustache, and a nraisical voice. He usually 
wore gauntlets, high cavalry boots, a broad- 
brimmed felt hat caught up on 
one side by a black ostrich plume, 
and a tight-fitting cavalry coat 
that he called his ^Tighting 
jacket.'^ He rode as if he had 
been born in the saddle. 

Fitz Lee, who 
served under him, 
said: ^^His st rong 
figure, his big brown 
beard, his piercing, 
laughing blue eyes, 

Stuart's cavalry boots . J ^ 

From originals in Confederate Museum, tho drOOpiIlg hat and 
Richmond, Va. ill i* j i j i 

black leather, the 
'fighting jacket' as he termed it, the tall cav- 
alry boots, formjcd one of the most jubilant 
and striking pictures in the war." 

Later on, John Esten Cooke described Stuart 
thus: ^'Plis 'fighting jacket' shone with dazzling 
buttons, and was covered with gold braid; his 
hat was looped up with a golden star and 
decorated with a black ostrich plume; his fine 
buff gauntlets reached to the elbow; around his 
waist was tied a splendid yellow sash and his 
spurs were of pure gold." 




46 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

One who formed an opinion of him from a 
casual glance might have thought that he was 
merely a gay young fop, fond of handsome and 
even showy dress. But his friends and his 
enemies knew better. Gay and even boyish 
as he was when off duty, loving music and good 
cheer, his men knew that the instant the 
bugles called him he would become the calm, 
daring, farsighted commander, leading them to 
glorious deeds. No leader of the southern arm}^ 
was more feared by the Federal troops or more 
admired by the commanders of the Federal 
cavalry — Sheridan, Pleasant on, Buford, and 
others — ^than Stuart whom they nicknamed 
'^the Yellow Jacket." He seemed to fly from 
place to place, guarding the Confederate line 
and charging the Federals at the most un- 
expected times and places; gayly dressed as that 
brilliant-colored insect, he was as sharp and 
sudden in attack. 

Possessing the daring courage that is necessary 
for a great cavalry leader, he was so wary and 
farsighted that he won the respect of conserva- 
tive leaders as well as the confidence of his men. 
And in victory or defeat he was the soul of good 
cheer. His mellow musical voice could be 
heard above the din of battle singing, 

^'li you want to have a good time 
Jine the cavalry." 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 47 

Once General Longstreet laughingly ordered 
General Stuart to leave camp, saying he made 
the cavalrymen's life seem so attractive that 
all the infantrymen wanted to desert and ^^jine 
the cavalry.'' 

On December 20, 1861, while the army was 
in winter quarters at Manassas, Stuart was 
placed in command of about 1,500 infantry, 
a battery of artillery, and a small body of 
cavalr}^, for the purpose of covering the move- 
ments of General J. E. Johnston's wagon train 
which had been sent to procure forage for the 
Confederate troops. It was most important 
that this wagon train should be protected and 
the pickets had advanced to Dranesville with 
the cavalry following closely, when a Federal 
force of nearly 4,000 men, supported by two 
other brigades, attacked the pickets. The 
pickets were driven back, and the Federal 
artillery and infantry occupied the town, where 
they posted themselves in a favorable position. 

Stuart, when informed that the Federals held 
the town, sent at once to recall the wagons and 
advanced as quickly as possible with the rest 
of his force to engage the Federals while the 
wagons were gaining a place of safety. The 
Federals had a much larger force of infantry 
and had a good position for their artillery; so 



4Sn life of J. E. B. STUART 



Stuart, after two hours of unequal combat, vras 
forced to retire with heavy loss in killed and 
wounded. The wagons, however, were saved 
from capture; and the next morning when 
Stuart returned to renew the attack, he found 
that the Federals had retired. 

In this battle of Dranesville, the Confederate 
loss was nearly 200 and that of the Federals 
was only 68. This was the first serious check 
that Stuart had received, but he had displayed 
so much prudence and skill in extricating the 
wagons and his small force from the sudden 
danger that he retained the entire confidence 
of his men. 

Writing about this battle to his wife, Stuart 
said, ^The enemy's force was at least four 
times larger than mine. Never was I in greater 
personal danger. Horses and men fell about 
me like tenpins, but thanks to God neither I 
nor my horse was touched.'' 

In the mieanv/hile, the Federal commander, 
General McClellan, had been organizing his 
forces and by March, 1862, he had under him 
in front of Washington a large army splendidly 
armed and equipped. General Johnston had 
too small an army to engage the Federal hosts ; 
and so late in March he fell back from Manassas 
and encamped on the south side of the Rappa- 
hannock river. 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 49 

General McClellan moved his large army to 
Fortress Monroe, and it was then seen that he 
intended to advance to Richmond by way of 
the Peninsula, — that is, the portion of tidewater 
Virginia lying between the James and York 
rivers. 

The brave Confederate general, Magruder, 
stationed at Yorktown, was joined by General 
Johnston with his whole army. They saw, how- 
ever, that it would be impossible to hold that 
position against McClellan, and so the Con- 
federates gave up the town and retired toward 
Richmond. 

The cavalr}^ under Stuart skillfully guarded 
the rear of the army and concealed its move- 
ments from the Federals. At Williamsburg a 
stubborn and brilliant battle was fought, in 
which Johnston's rear guard repelled the 
Federals. After the battle, the cavalry and the 
Stuart Horse Artillery protected the rear of the 
Confederate army as it withdrew toward 
Richmond and screened the infantry as it took 
position along the southern bank of the Chick- 
ahominy river. 

McClellan placed his army on the north bank 
of the same river, and on May 31 and June 1, 
he threw a large force across the river and 
engaged the army of Johnston in the battle of 



50 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Seven Pines. This battle was only a partial vic- 
tory for the Confederates, and as the river was 
bordered by wide marshes and dense woods, 
neither side could make use of cavalry in the 
conflict. General Stuart, however, was actively 
engaged in giving personal assistance to General 
Longstreet on the field. 

In his report of the battle. General Longstreet 
said: ^^Brigadier J. E. B. Stuart, in the absence 
of any opportunity to use his cavalry, was of 
material service by his presence with me on the 
field.'^ 

In this battle of Seven Pines, General John- 
ston was severely wounded and gave place to 
General R. E. Lee, who was thus put in com- 
mand of the army defending Richmond and of 
all of the other Confederate forces in Virginia. 
McClellan's magnificent army, now numbering 
115,000 men, stretched from Meadow Bridge on 
the right to the Williamsburg Road on the left, 
having in front the marshes of the Chickahominy 
as natural barriers. By entrenching his army 
behind positions which he secured from time to 
time, he advanced until at one point he was only 
five miles from Richmond and could see the 
spires of the churches and hear the bells ringing 
for services. 

General Lee had a much smaller army with 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 51 

which to repel this large entrenched army and 
he withdrew to the south side of the Chicka- 
hominy. It was very important to him to 
learn the position and strength of the Union 
forces, so that he might be able to attack them 
at the weakest point. In order to gain this 
information, he resolved to send General Stuart 
with 1,200 cavalry to make a raid toward the 
White House on the Pamunkey river, which 
was the base of supplies for the Federal troops. 
General Lee wrote to General Stuart, giving 
definite instructions about this scouting expedi- 
tion. 

The letter said: ^^You are desired to make a 
scout movement, to the rear of the enemy now 
posted on the Chickahominy river, with a view 
of gaining intelligence of his operations, com- 
munications, etc., of driving in his foraging 
parties, and securing such grain and cattle for 
ourselves as you can make arrangements to 
have driven in. 

'^Another object is to destroy his wagon trains 
said to be daily passing from the Piping-Tree 
road to his camp on the Chickahominy. The 
utmost vigilance on your part will be necessary 
to prevent any surprise to yourself, and the 
greatest caution must be practiced in keeping 
well in your front and flanks reliable scouts to 
give you information. 



52 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

*^You will return as soon as the object of your 
expedition is accomplished, and you must bear 
in mind while endeavoring to execute the 
general purpose of your mission, not to hazard 
unnecessarily your command. Be content to 
accomplish all the good you can, without feeling 
it necessary to obtain all that might be desired." 

Such a raid demanded great daring and skill, 
coupled with cool judgment, and General Lee 
knew that these qualities were possessed by the 
man to whom he entrusted this responsible and 
dangerous undertaking. As we are to see, 
Stuart carried out his instructions in an able 
and brilliant manner and accomplished even 
more than was hoped by General Lee. 

In the first place, Stuart chose for the enter- 
prise men and horses picked to stand the strain 
of rapid movement. Colonel Fitzhugh Lee, 
Colonel W. H. F. Lee, and Colonel W. T. Martin 
were in command of the cavalry and Colonel 
James Breathed commanded the one batter}^ 
of artillery. 

Early on the morning of June 12, Stuart 
and his chosen troopers started on the famous 
^^Chickahominy Raid," or ^Tamunkey Ex- 
pedition" as it is sometimes called. In order 
to mask his real purpose, Stuart marched 
directly northward twenty-two miles. At sun- 



A BRIGADIEU GENERAL 



53 



f^^JUNEl^!]^ / 


1 Otaarts IcoaliG ■♦' 


^ ^WINSTON \'*^-' f 






^COUCT HOUSE 








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v/s^-^ 




M .\ # V 






i 1 


YELLOW T/WEBN 


*^ SALEM CH. \-j;^ 


.1/^^^% 




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• GAINES MILL 
NEW COLD HAOESOB 

FAie OAKS StJt^^. JT 




^^^^fcD '-^^^'^^^^^^'^ 


♦««***w ^^i^ j^ y^"^ 


===^ JjfrALLEYVILLE 


.«ZX§AWJ6£S^a/^ 


^\V^===^^ 


« 


frl^ SEVEN PINEiT=^=^j^3^0'^ 


^1 


t 


1 ^ 


V- .^^>. 


l^. 


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I 




,^ ^ 1^ MALVEBN HILL 


r*.^^ 




i ^r^ 




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^ HASe^ONS ^ 


\.^jf^^^t) 




f 1 **■*> ^^^^=s 


^^^=^^^/Wil\ 



I.JL\P OF THE CHICKAHOMINY RAID 



rise the next morning, the Httle band of horse- 
men mounted and turned abruptly eastward 
toward Hanover Courthouse. They found the 



54 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

town in possession of a body of Federal cavalry 
that retired as the Confederate troopers ad- 
vanced. The Confederates then passed on 
without serious trouble as far as Totopotomy 
Creek. Here, however, Stuart's advance guard 
was attacked by a company of Federal troopers. 
Finding themselves outnumbered and almost 
surrounded, these troopers retired to the main 
body of Federal troops commanded by Captain 
Royall, who at once drew up his forces to 
receive the attack. Stuart immediately^ ordered 
a squadron to charge with sabers, in columns of 
fours. Captain Latane, a gallant young officer, 
who was that day commanding the squadron, 
met Captain Royall in a hand-to-hand en- 
counter. Roy all was seriously wounded by a 
thrust from Latane' s saber. Latane fell dead, 
pierced by a bullet from Royall's pistol. The 
Federals fled in dismay, but soon rallied and 
returned to the charge, only to be again repulsed, 
whereupon they retired to the Union lines. 

Fitz Lee learned from some of the prisoners 
that the Federal camp was not far away and, 
having obtained from Stuart permission to pur- 
sue the Union troop)S, he pushed on to Old Church, 
repelled the cavalry, and destroyed the camp. 

General Stuart had now carried out the chief 
order given by General Lee, — that is, he had 



56 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

ridden to the rear of McClellan's army and had 
discovered that the Federal right wing did not 
extend toward the railway and Hanover Court- 
house — but it was a vexing problem how to 
bring this valuable information to his com- 
manding general. The route the young officer 
had just passed was doubtless by this time 
swarming with Federals. The best way to return 
to Richmond would probably be to ride quickly 
around the entire Federal army and cross the 
Chickahominy river to the left of McClellan, 
before troops were sent to cut him off. Without 
halting or consulting with any of his officers, 
Stuart decided that there was less risk in 
following this circuitous route, especially as he 
had with him for a guide Lieutenant James 
Christian whose home was on the Chickahominy 
and who said that the command could safely 
cross a private ford on his farm. 

The Federals were under the impression that 
there was a very large force of Confederates on 
the raid; and so they were collecting infantry 
and cavalry at Totopotomy Bridge to cut off 
the return of the raiders. Stuart, however, 
passed on toward Tunstall's Station, on the 
York River Railroad, four miles from the 
White House which was the principal supply 
station of the Federal army. 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 57 

He now proceeded to carry out the second 
part of Lee's instructions, — namely, to destroy 
whatever supplies he might find on the way. 
As he passed on, numbers of wagons fell into his 
hands. He sent two squadrons to Putney's 
Ferry and burned two large transports and 
numbers of wagons laden with supplies. Ap- 
proaching Tunstall's Station, one of the supply 
depots of the Federals, he sent forward a body 
of picked men to cut the telegraph wires and 
obstruct the railroad. Before they could per- 
form the latter task, a train approached bearing 
soldiers and supplies to McClellan's army. The 
Confederates fired on it, but instead of stopping 
the brave engineer stood at his post and carried 
the train by at full speed. He was struck by a 
shot and fell dying at his post, while the Con- 
federates gave a cheer for his courage in risking 
his life to save his charge from their hands. 

Vast quantities of Federal stores were de- 
stroyed by the Confederates whose men and 
horses reveled in an unusual supply of good 
rations and provender. It was now nearly dark 
and Stuart's position was exceedingly dangerous. 
Behind him were regiments of cavalry in hot 
pursuit. Not more than four or five miles 
distant were the entrenchments of McClellan, 
whence in a short time troops could be sent by 



58 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



rail to cut off his progress to the James river. 
Before hira was the Chickahomiiiy^ now a 
raging torrent from the spring rains. His chief 
guides through this maze of swamps and forest 
roads were Private Richard Frayser and Lieu- 




From a war-time photograph 
THE CHICKAHOMINY RIVER 



tenant Christian whose homes were near and 
who knew every part of the country through 
w^hich they w^ere passing. Stuart had the ad- 
vantage also of knowing from his scouts just 
where the enemv was located. 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 59 

Having formed his plans, swiftness and 
boldness were his watchwords. After he had 
destroyed the Federal supplies at Tun stall's 
Station and burned the railroad bridge over 
Black Creek, he set out about dark for Talleys- 
ville, four miles distant, where he halted for 
three hours and a half, in order to allow men 
and horses to rest and scattered troopers to 
come up. 

Colonel John S. Mosby, later one of Stuart's 
chief scouts, was at that time his aide. In 
describing the raid, Mosby said that one who 
had never taken part in such an expedition 
could form no idea of the careless ga3"ety of the 
men that night. When they had set out the day 
before, they did not know where they were 
going. Now they were aware they were riding 
around McClellan and the boldness of the 
movement fired their imaginations, quickened 
their pulses, and roused their courage to any 
deed of daring. Therefore, in the midst of 
danger, the}^ sang and laughed and feasted; and 
at midnight w^hen the bugle sounded ^73oots 
and Saddles," every horseman was ready for 
whatever might come. 

At daybreak on June 14, the Confederates 
reached the ford on Sycamore Springs, Chris- 
tian's farm, — a ford no longer for the river 



60 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

swollen by the heavy rains had overflowed its 
banks and become a raging torrent. Colonel 
Lee and a few men swam their horses across 
the stream and back again; but it was evident 
that the weaker horses and the artillery could 
not cross at that point. The Confederates then 
cut down trees tall enough to span the stream, 
and attempted to build a rough bridge, but the 
trees were swept down the rapid current as 
soon as they touched the water. 

Stuart rode up and sat on his horse, calmly 
stroking his long silken beard as he watched his 
cavalrymen's bootless efforts. Every other 
face betraj^ed keen anxiety. Learning there 
was the remains of an old bridge a few miles 
below, he moved the command thither with all 
speed. A deserted v/arehouse was near the old 
bridge, and a large force of men was set at work 
to tear down the house in order to secure material 
to rebuild the bridge. While the work was 
going on, Stuart laughed and jested with his 
oflTicers. 

The men worked with such swiftness that 
within three hours the bridge was ready for 
the cavalry and artillery to pass over; and at 
one o'clock that afternoon, the whole command 
had crossed. During those hours of anxiety, 
Fitz Lee, in command of the rear guard, had 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 61 

driven off several parties of Federal eavalry. 
After all the Confederates gained the southern 
shore — Fitz Lee being the last man to cross — , the 
bridge was burned to prevent pursuit. The 
men were exultant and happy at having crossed 
the river, but they were by no means out of 
danger, being thirty-five miles from Richmond 
and still far within the lines of McClellan. 
Stuart, who knew that every moment was 
precious to General Lee, hastened on at sunset 
with only one courier and his trusty guide 
Frayser and arrived at Richmond about sunrise 
on the morning of June 15. The men rested 
several hours and then were led by Colonel 
Fitz Lee safely back to their own camp where 
they were greeted with enthusiastic cheers by 
their comrades. 

As soon as General Stuart reached Richmond, 
he sent Frayser to inform Mrs. Stuart of his 
safe return, while he himself rode to General 
Lee's headquarters with his wonderful report. 

He had been sent to find out the position of 
the right wing of McClellan's army. He had 
not only located that, but he had destroyed a 
large amount of United States property, brought 
off one hundred and sixty-five prisoners and 
two hundred and sixty horses and mules. With 
only twelve hundred men, he had ridden around 



62 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

the great Federal army — a distance of about 
ninety miles in about fifty-six hours — with the 
loss of only one man, the lamented young 
Latane. By that dashing ride, Stuart gained 
for himself world-wide fame and an honorable 
place among the great cavalry leaders of all 
time. The Chickahominy Raid was one of the 
most brilliant cavalry achievements in history, 
and it inspired the Confederates with fresh 
courage and excited Federal dread of the bold 
cavalrymen who attempted and accomplished 
seemingly impossible things. 

The information gained w^as invaluable for it 
made it possible for General Lee to send Jackson 
against the right flank of McClellan and to 
defeat the Federals at Cold Harbor. 

In the Seven Days' Battle around Richmond, 
which began on June 26, Stuart at first guarded 
the left of Jackson's march. In the battle of 
Gaines's Mill, he found a suitable position for 
the artillery. He sent forward two guns under 
Pelham, a gallant young gunner from Alabama, 
who kept up an unequal combat for hours 
with two Federal batteries. When the Federal 
lines had been forced at Gaines's Mill and 
Cold Harbor, Stuart advanced three miles to 
the left; but finding no trace of the Federals, he 
returned that night to Cold Harbor. On June 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 



63 



28, he proceeded toward the White House on 
the Pamimkey river, wliich the Federals had 
abandoned and burned. They had also set 
fire to many valuable stores and munitions of 
war. The iUustration on this page is from a 
war-time photograph, showing the railroad bridge 
across the Pamunkey river which was destroyed 




From a war-time photograph 
RUINS OF RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS PAMUNKEY RIVER 



in order to render the road useless to the Con- 
federates. When McClellan changed his base 
from the White House to James river, he had two 
trains loaded with food and am.munition run at^ 
full speed off the embankment in the left fore- 
ground into the river, in order to keep these stores 



64 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

from falling into the hands of the southern 
troops. 

An interesting account of this campaign is 
given by Heros Von Borcke. Von Borcke was a 
noble young Prussian officer who gave his 
services as a volunteer to the Confederacy, just 
as LaFayette had given his services to the 
Colonies in the War of the Revolution; Von 
Borcke served the South so loyally that near 
the close of the war the Confederate Congress 
drew up a resolution of thanks for his services 
in just the same form that the Colonies had 
thanked LaFayette. 

Von Borcke was one of Stuart's aides and he 
distinguished himself by his gallantry during 
the Chickahominy raid. He tells us that when 
the Confederates arrived at the White House 
they found burning p^Tamids built of barrels 
of eggs, bacon and hams, and barrels of sugar. 
There were also boxes of oranges and lemons 
and other luxuries. j\Iany of these luxuries 
were rescued b}^ the Confederates, and when 
Von Borcke reached the plantation, shortly 
after it had been taken, he found General 
Stuart seated under a tree drinking a big glass 
of iced lemonade, an unusual treat for a Con- 
federate soldier. All of Stuart's troops had such 
a feast as was seldom enjoyed during the war. 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 65 

and large quantities of supplies and equipments 
were forwarded to the Confederate quarter- 
master at Richmond. 

The Federal gunboat, Marhlehead, was still 
in sight on the river. The soldiers at that 
period had an almost superstitious fear of the 
bombs thrown by the big guns of the gunboats, 
which made an awful whizzing noise and burst 
into many fragments. Stuart decided that he 
would teach his troopers a lesson and show them 
how little harm the dreaded shells did at short 
range. He selected seventy-five men whom 
he armed with carbines and placed under 
com.mand of Colonel W. H. F. Lee who led 
them down to the landing. They fired at the 
boat and skirmishers were sent ashore from 
the boat to meet them. A brisk skirmish fol- 
lowed, during which Stuart brought up one gun 
of Pelham's battery. This threw shells upon the 
decks of the Marblehead, while the screeching 
bombs of the big guns of the boat went over 
the heads of Pelham's battery, far away into 
the depths of the swamps. The skirmishers 
hurried back to the Marblchcad, and it steamed 
away down the river, pursued as far as possible 
by shells from Pelham's plucky Httle howitzer. 

Stuart sent General Lee the important news 
that McClellan was seeking a base upon the 



66 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

James river, and then stayed the remainder of 
the day at the White House^ where he found 
enough undestroyed provisions to satisfy the 
hunger of the men and horses of his command. 

After severe engagements with the Confeder- 
ates at Savage Station and Frayser's Farm, the 
Union forces were forced to retreat, closely 
followed by Jackson and Stuart. On the evening 
of July 1, was fought the bloody battle of 
Malvern Hill, after which McClellan retreated 
by night down the James to Harrison's Landing 
where he was protected by the gunboats. 

Early on the morning of July 2, Stuart 
started in pursuit and found the Federals in 
position at Westover. The next day he took 
possession of Evelington Heights, a tableland 
overlooking McClellan's encampment and pro- 
tecting his line of retreat. Llere Stuart expected 
to be supported by Longstreet and Jackson, and 
he opened fire with Pelham's howitzer. 

The Federal infantry and artillery at once 
moved forward to storm the heights. Jackson 
and Longstreet were delayed by terrific storms, 
and Stuart unsupported held his position until 
two o'clock in the afternoon when his ammuni- 
tion gave out. He then retired and joined the 
main body of the infantry, which did not arrive 
until after the Federals had taken possession 



A BRIGADIER GENERAL 67 

of Evelington Heights and were fortifying it 
strongly. 

The two armies now had a breathing spell of 
about one month. McClellan's defeated hosts 
remained in their protected position at Har- 
rison's Landing until the middle of August, when 
they w(Te recalled to join General Pope at 
Manassas. General Lee's army was withdrawn 
nearer to Richmond which was saved from im- 
mediate danger. 



CHAPTER V 

A MAJOR GENERAL: 
CAMP LIFE AND THE SECOND BATTLE 

OF MANASSAS 

1862 

As a reward for his faithful and efficient 
services in the Peninsular Campaign, Stuart 
received his commission as major general of 
cavalry on July 25, 1862. His forces were now 
organized into two brigades, with Brigadier- 
General Wade Hampton in command of the 
first and Brigadier-General Fitzhugh Lee in 
command of the second. During the month 
following the defeat of McClellan, these two 
brigades were placed by turns on picket duty on 
the Charles City road to guard Richmond and 
in the camp of instruction at Hanover Court- 
house. 

While conducting this camp of instruction 
where he drilled his men in the cavalry tactics 
that were later to win them such honor, Stuart 
and his staff were often pleasantly entertained 
at neighboring plantations. Mrs. Stuart with 
her two Httle children. Flora, five years of age, 

[ 68 1 



A MAJOR GENERAL 69 

and ^^ Jimmy/' aged two^ was able to be near 
the general once more. The time passed 
pleasantly, enlivened by cavalry drills, visits 
from the young officers to the ladies of the 
vicinity, serenades and dances, and visits from 
the ladies to the general's headquarters. 

One Sunday evening as the general and most 
of his staff were visiting at Dundee, the planta- 
tion near which their camp was situated, a 
stable in the yard caught fire and the visitors 
proved themselves as good firemen as they were 
soldiers. The young Prussian officer. Von 
Borcke, an unusually large and heavily-built 
man, was so energetic in his efforts, that after 
the fire was out, the general, who was always 
fond of a joke, insisted that he had seen the 
young officer rush from the burning building 
with a mule under one arm and two little pigs 
under the other. 

Stuart was soon called away from this 
pleasant life to make an inspection of all the 
Confederate cavalry forces. It was evident 
that General Lee's army would soon be engaged 
against a new Federal commander. General 
Pope, who was concentrating a large army on 
the Rapidan river. General Jackson, who had 
been sent to hold General Pope in check, had 
his headquarters at Gordonsville. 



70 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Major Von Borcke tells us that the cars 
carrying the Confederate troops to Gordons- 
ville were so crowded that General Stuart rode 
on the tender of the engine, rather than take 
a seat away from one of the soldiers. It was a 
hot night in July and there was a dense smoke 
from the engine, but it was so dark that it was 
not until they reached Gordonsville that the 
general discovered that both Von Borcke and 
himself were so black with soot that their best 
friends would not have recognized them. 
Indeed, it took a great deal of soap and water 
to make them presentable once more. 

Stuart reached Jackson's headquarters on 
August 10, the day after the Federal advance 
guard had been defeated in the battle of Cedar 
Run. At Jackson's request, Stuart took com- 
mand of a reconnaissance to find out the posi- 
tion and strength of the enemy. Upon hearing 
his report, Jackson decided to remain for the 
present on the defensive. 

In the meantime. General Lee, who was 
watching General McClellan's army still en- 
camped at Harrison's Landing, received informa- 
tion that the latter had been ordered to withdraw 
his forces and join General Pope at Manassas. 

Leaving a small force in front of Richmond, 
Lee hastened to join Jackson so that they could 



A MAJOR GENERAL 71 

engage Pope before his already large army was 
reenforced by McClellan. The cavalry was 
kept very busy at this time as it was necessary 
to defend the Central Road, now the Chesa- 
peake and Ohio, from Federal raids. 

On the night of August 17, Stuart himself 
barely escaped capture. He wrote an interesting 
account of this adventure to his wife, and Mrs. 
Stuart has kindly allowed us to use the letter 
in this book. Here it is: 

Rapidan Valley, August 19, 18G2. 

My Dear Wife — I had a very narrow escape yesterday 
morning. I had made arrangement for Lee's Brigade to 
move across from Davenport's bridge to Raccoon ford 
where I was to meet it, but Lee went by Louisa Court 
House. His dispatch informing me of the fact did not 
reach me, consequently I went do^vn the Plank road to 
the place of rendezvous. 

Hearing nothing of him, I stopped for the night and 
sent Major Fitzhugh with a guide across to meet General 
Lee. At sunrise yesterday a large body of cavalry from 
the very direction from which Lee was expected, ap- 
proached crossing the Plank road just below me and 
going directly towards Raccoon ford. Cf course I^thought 
it was Lee — as no Yankees had been seen about for a 
month, hut as a measure of prudence I sent dowTi two 
men to ascertain. They had not gone 100 yards before 
they were fired on and pursued rapidly by a squadron. 

I was in the yard bareheaded, my hat being in the 
porch. I just had time to mount my horse and clear the 



A^~^ 



-^^ 



2S 






Z^^^ ,<^-«l-G5^^ ^^l^^CSLX^ ^ .i^t_^5t_</^^ ^3^ 



/^x-a-^ 







^;>'C->-«-'^5^_, /^-'-zs -'^^«4,-._X4_> 



^, 



FACillMILE OF PAGE OF LETTER FROM GENERAL STUART TO HIS WIFE 

[72] 



A MAJOR GENERAL 73 

back fence, having no time to get my hat or anything 
else. I lost my haversack, blanket, talma, cloak, and 
hat, with that palmetto star — too bad, wasn't it? I am 
all right again, however, and I am greeted, on all sides 
with congratulations and "whereas your hat!'^ I intend 
to make the Yankees pay for that hat. 

Poor Fitzhugh was not so fortunate. He was captured 
four miles off under similar circumstances, with his fine 
grey. He will be exchanged in ten days, however. Von 
Borcke and Dabney were with me (five altogether) and 
their escape was equally miraculous. Dundee is the best 
place for you at preseat. W.e will have hot work I 
think to-morrow. My cavalry has an important part to 
play. 

Love to all, my two sweethearts included. 

God bless you. 

J. E. B. Stuart. 

A few days later, as you will hear, General 
Stuart collected payment for his lost hat from 
General Pope himself. But before this took 
place, the Confederate cavalry was engaged in 
several skirmishes with the Federals. There 
was a severe encounter at Brandy Station on 
August 20 when sixty-five prisoners were 
captured. The regiments which had fought 
under Ashby, a gallant young officer who had 
been killed in the Valley, were now added to 
Stuart's division as Robertson's Brigade. At 
Brandy Station, these troopers fought under 



74 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Stuart for the first time and he was much 
pleased at their dash and bravery. 

While Lee, who had now joined Jackson, 
was waiting a favorable opportunity to attack 
the Federals, Stuart begged permission to pass 
to the rear of Pope's army and cut his line of 
communication at Catlett's Station where there 
was a large depot of supplies. General Lee 
gave his consent, and on the morning of 
August 22, General Stuart crossed the Rappa- 
hannock at Waterloo Bridge, to make a second 
raid to the rear of the Federal army. 

By nightfall the Confederates reached Auburn 
near Catlett's Station, where they captured 
the Federal pickets. Just as they reached the 
station, however, a violent storm arose; and 
amid the wind and the rain and the darkness, it 
seemed impossible to find their way. Fortu- 
nately, they captured a negro who knew Stuart 
and who offered to show them the way to Pope's 
headquarters. They accepted his guidance and 
soon the Confederate cavalry surprised the un- 
suspecting enemy, attacked the camp, and 
captured a number of officers belonging to 
Pope's staff, as well as his horses, baggage, a 
large sum of money, and his dispatch book which 
contained copies of the letters he had written 
to the government, telling the location and 



76 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

plans of his army. But for the fact that General 
Pope was out on a tour of inspection, he himself 
would have been captured. 

In the meantime, two of Stuart's regiments 
had gained another part of the camp, and an 
attempt was made to destroy the railroad 
bridge over Cedar Run. But on account of the 
heavy rain it was impossible to fire it, and, in 
the dense darkness, it was equally hard to cut 
asunder the heavy timbers with the few axes 
which they found. Therefore, with more than 
three hundred prisoners and valuable spoils, 
Stuart retired before daybreak and regained in 
safety the Confederate lines. 

Major Von Borcke gives an interesting inci- 
dent of their return march. As the troops — 
wet, cold, and hungry — passed through Warren- 
ton, coffee w^as served them by a number of 
young girls. One of the girls recognized among 
the prisoners General Pope's quartermaster. 
He had boasted several days before, when at 
her father's house, that he would enter Rich- 
mond within a month. She had promptly bet 
him a bottle of wine that he would not be able 
to do it, but as he was now a prisoner he would 
be obliged to enter the city even earlier than 
he had hoped. She, therefore, asked General 
Stuart's permission to offer the quartermaster 



A MAJOR GENERAL 77 

a bottle of wine from his own captured supplies. 
The general readily granted her request, and the 
Yankee prisoner entered good-naturedly into 
the jest, saying that he would always be willing 
to drink the health of so charming a person. 

In retaliation for the loss of his hat and cloak, 
General Stuart sent General Pope's uniform 
to Richmond where for some days it hung in 
one of the shop windows, to the delight of the 
populace who especially disliked Pope on ac- 
count of his bombast and cruelty. He had 
boasted that he had come from the West where 
his soldiers always saw the backs of their 
enemies, and he had authorized his soldiers to 
take whatever they wished from the citizens of 
Virginia, whom he held responsible for damage 
done by raiding parties of the Confederate army. 

Two weeks later, General Stuart wrote his wife 
that Parson Landstreet, a member of his staff 
who had been captured by the Federals, brought 
him a message from General Pope. Pope said 
that he would send back Stuart's hat if Stuart 
would return his coat. 

^^But," wrote Stuart, "1 have got to see my 
hat first/^ 

It was against General Pope that the second 
Battle of Manassas was fought, August 28, 29. 
and 30, 1862. General Stuart and his cavalry 



78 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

in the maneuvers preceding the battle, screened 
the flank march of Jackson's troops to Grove- 
town, by which movement they placed them- 
selves between the Federal rear and Wash- 
ington. It took two days for Jackson's ^^foot 
cavalry^' to make this march, and so perfectly 
did Stuart do his work that as late as August 
28, Pope did not know to what place Jackson had 
marched from Manassas. 

In the three days' battle that followed, the 
cavalry was ever on the flank of the army, 
observing the Federals and guarding against 
attacks. On the morning of August 29, after a 
sharp skirmish, Stuart met Lee and Longstreet 
and opened the way for them to advance to the 
support of Jackson whose forces on the right 
wing were engaged in unequal and critical com- 
bat. Later on the same day, Stuart saw that the 
Federals were massing in front of Jackson, and 
with a small detachment of cavalry aided by 
Pelham and his guns, he gallantly held large 
forces in check and protected Jackson's 
captured wagon train of supplies. On the 
afternoon of August 30, the cavalry did most 
effectual service, following the retreating 
Federals and protecting the exposed Confeder- 
ate flank against heavy cavalry attacks. During 
the engagements, the Confederate infantry 



A MAJOR GENERAL 79 

could not have held its position but for the 
assistance of the cavalry under the able direc- 
tion of Stuart. 

In these battles, Pope had forces largely 
superior in number and equipment to Lee's, 
but Pope's losses in killed and wounded were 
much the heavier. Finally he was forced to 
retreat toward Washington, leaving in the 
hands of the Confederates many prisoners as 
well as captured artillery, arms, and a large 
amount of stores. The North seemed panic- 
stricken, as Washington was now directly 
exposed to the attacks of the Confederates. 



CHAPTER VI 

THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 

1862 

General Lee knew, however, that he did not 
have men enough to take by assault the strong 
fortifications around Washington, and he, there- 
fore, planned to cross over into Maryland 
before the Federal army had recovered from its 
defeat, when its commanders were least expect- 
him. In order that he might completely mis- 
lead them and make it appear that he was 
beginning a general attack on Washington, he 
ordered Stuart and his troops to advance 
toward that city. 

In their advance, they engaged in several 
sharp skirmishes with the Federals, finally 
driving them from Fairfax Courthouse, where, 
amid the cheers of the inhabitants, Major Von 
Borcke planted the beloved Confederate flag 
on a little common in the center of the village. 

The people of this section had been under 
Federal control for several months and their 
joy at seeing Stuart and his troops was un- 

\ 80 1 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 81 

bounded. They flocked to the roadside to get a 
glimpse of the great cavalry leader. 

One lady, who had lost two sons in battle, 
came forward as the troops passed her home 
and asked permission to kiss the general's 
battle flag. She held by the hand her only 
surviving son, a lad of fifteen years, and de- 
clared herself ready if it were needed to give 
his life too for her country. 

On September 5, General Stuart and his 
forces crossed the Potomac. Four days later, 
General Lee moved his entire army across the 
river, encamped at Frederick, Maryland, and 
sent General Jackson to capture the strongly 
fortified Federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. 

Major Von Borcke, from vv^hose Memoirs of 
the Confederate TVar for Independence we shall 
borrow several interesting incidents of this 
Maryland campaign, tells us that the crossing of 
the cavalry at White's Ford was one of the most 
picturesque scenes of the war. The river is 
very wide at this point, and its steep banks, 
rising to the height of sixty feet, are over- 
shadowed by large trees that trail from their 
branches a perfect network of graceful and lux- 
uriant vines. A sandy island about midstream 
broke the passage of the horsemen and artillery, 
and as a column of a thousand troops passed 




Copyright, 1914, by E. O, Wiggins From photograph owned bv Qen. T. T. Munford 
[82] MAJOR HEROS VON BORCKE 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 83 

over, the rays of the setting sun made the 
water look Hke burnished gold. The hearts of 
the soldiers crossing the river thrilled at the 
sound of the familiar and inspiring strains of 
'^Maryland, my Maryland/' which greeted them 
from the northern bank. 

The enthusiasm of the Maryland people at 
Poolesville, where Stuart first stopped, was 
boundless. Two young merchants of the village 
suddenly resolved to enlist in the cavalry and 
they put up all their goods at auction. The 
soldiers with the eagerness and carelessness of 
children cleared out both establishments in 
less than an hour. Many other recruits were 
made in this village, all the young men seeming 
to feel the inspiration of General Stuart's 
favorite song, 

*'If you want to have a good time 
Jine the cavalry." 

At Urbana, a pretty little village on the road 
to Frederick, where General Stuart with one 
division of his forces camped for several days^ 
a most exciting ball was held on the evening 
of September 8. There were many charming 
families living in the neighborhood, and General 
Stuart and his staff decided to give a dance at an 
old, unused academy located on a hill just 
outside of the town. The young ladies of the 



84 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

neighborhood wilhngly lent their help, and 
evening found the halls of the academy lighted 
by tallow candles and draped with garlands of 
roses and with battle flags borrowed from the 
regiments of the brigades. Music was fur- 
nished by the band of a Mississippi regiment. 
The ball, which had opened to the rousing 
strains of ^^Dixie," was at its height, when a 
young orderly rushed in and to the accompani- 
ment of distant shots reported that the Federals 
had driven in the pickets and were attacking 
the camp. 

Wild confusion prevailed. The officers got 
rapidly to horse and anxious mammas collected 
their daughters. Upon reaching the scene of 
action. General Stuart found that the danger had 
been overestimated and the Federals were 
already beginning to retreat. In a short while, 
they had been driven back; and by one o'clock, 
the staff officers had brought the young ladies 
back to the academy and the ball had a second 
and more auspicious opening. Dancing con- 
tinued until df^wn, when some soldiers wounded 
in the skirmish were brought in, and the ball 
room was soon converted into a hospital and the 
fair dancers into willing if inexperienced nurses. 

The next day. General Fitz Lee's brigade was 
engaged in a skirmish, and the day following 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 85 

Colonel Munford, who was commanding Robert- 
son's Brigade, had a sharp encounter with 
Federals at Sugar Loaf Mountain. By Sept. 11, 
the Federal cavalry was attacking in such force 
that General Stuart saw that it was necessary to 
order a retreat toward Frederick. General Fitz 
Lee commanded the advance; Colonel Munford 
protected the rear, which as it approached 
Urbana had a sharp skirmish with the closely- 
following Federal cavalry. General Stuart and 
his staff, however, did not tear themselves aw^ay 
from their friends in this hospitable little village 
until the Union troops were within half a mile 
of the place and several . shells had exploded in 
the street. From Urbana the cavalry went to 
Frederick. Many years after the war was over, 
Mrs. Stuart received a letter from a New York 
physician, who at the time of the Maryland 
campaign had just won his title and a position 
on the staff of one of the Union hospitals in 
Frederick. 

He told aoout meeting General Stuart and 
then said, "1 wish to bear testimony to the fact 
that not only myself, but all the friends of the 
Union cause in Frederick, so far as I could learn, 
were kindly treated by both officers and private 
soldiers. I do not remember of a single instance 
where private property was molested, nor was 



86 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

any taunt, indignity, or insult offered to any 
person. Whittier's ^Barbara Frietchie/ which 
has attracted so much attention, — even that is 
fiction." 

At Frederick, Stuart found that General Lee 
had already retreated across South Mountain 
and taken a position at Sharpsburg on Antietam 
Creek, while Jackson was investing Harper's 
Ferry. Look at the map on page 95 and you will 
see that southwest of Frederick rises a small 
spur of the Blue Ridge, called Catoctin Mountain 
on the other side of which is a broad, fertile 
valley extending for about six miles to the base 
of South Mountain. .On the opposite side of 
South INIountain is Sharpsburg, and across the 
same mountain to the south is Harper's Ferry 
which Jackson had been ordered to capture 
before he marched north to join Lee and Long- 
street at Sharpsburg. 

Now you can see that until Harper's Ferry 
fell it was necessary that the cavalry should 
hinder the advance of the Federal army under 
McClellan until Jackson could join Lee. This 
was especially difficult, because an order from 
General Lee to General D. H. Hill, explaining 
fully the commanding general's plans and the 
location of all his forces, had fallen into the 
hands of General McClellan and he was ad- 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 87 

vancing a tremendous army toward Sharps- 
burg as rapidly as possible. 

As General McClellan's forces advanced, 
General Stuart retreated slowly, contesting 
every inch of ground. His retreat across 
Catoctin Mountain was through Braddock's 
Gap, along the same road where eighty-seven 
years before, the young patriot, George Wash- 
ington, had accompanied General Braddock 
on the fatal expedition against Fort Duquesne. 
In this gap, Stuart had a sharp encounter with 
the Federals. He and Major Von Borcke who 
was commanding a gun on the height above the 
pass, narrowly escaped being captured by 
Federal skirmishers who, under cover of the 
dense forest, had worked their way around 
behind the gun. 

Another sharp encounter took place on 
Kittochtan creek at Middletown, half way 
across the valley, where General Stuart delayed 
the retreat of his forces so long that they barely 
escaped capture and reached the foot of South 
Mountain just in time to protect the two 
principal passes, — Turner's Gap which led 
directly through Boonsboro to Sharpsburg, and 
Crampton's Gap which led through Pleasant 
Valley to Harper's Ferry. 

It was necessary to hold these gaps and delay 



88 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

the enemy until Jackson could capture Harper's 
Ferry and unite his division with the remainder 
of the army under General Lee. A heavy part of 
this work fell on the cavalry and the artillery. 
The retreat of Generals Longstreet and Hill, 
who had held Turner's Gap until the after- 
noon of Sept. 14, was covered by General Fitz 
Lee's brigade which held the Federals in check 
at every possible point. There was a sharp 
encounter at Boonsboro, where, in charging, 
General W. H. F. Lee was ridden down by his 
own men and narrowly escaped capture. 

At Crampton's Gap, which led through 
Pleasant Valley to Harper's Ferry, Colonel 
Munford gallantly checked the Federal advance 
until the evening of Sept. 14, when the troops 
sent to assist him broke and retreated in bad 
order through Pleasant Valley. General Stuart 
had been at Harper's Ferry conferring with 
General McLaws; when they heard of the 
engagement at Crampton's Gap, both generals 
rode quickly forward to meet the routed and 
panic-stricken troops which they rallied and 
formed into line of battle. The position that 
they held the next morning was so strong that 
the advancing Federals hesitated to attack; 
just as the first shots were being exchanged, the 
news of the surrender of Harper's Ferry caused 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 89 

the attacking party to begin a hasty retreat 
along the road that they had come. 

General Stuart at once reported to General 
Jackson, who requested him to convey the news 
to General Lee at Sharpsburg. But even now 
Lee was in great peril. He had with him, on the 
evening of Sept. 14 when the gaps were stormed, 
only about 20,000 men; and McClellan's army 
of more than 87,000 was advancing rapidly to 
attack him. Lee had now either to recross the 
Potomac or to fight a battle north of that river. 

He decided to make a stand, and on the night 
of Sept. 14, drew his army across Antietam 
creek and took a strong position on a range of 
hills east of the Hagerstown turnpike. Here 
he waited for Jackson who, by a forced march, 
came up in time to take position on the left 
wing on the morning of September 16. Even 
when reenforced by Jackson, Lee had a much 
smaller force than McClellan. 

On the evening of Sept. 16, McClellan at- 
tacked Jackson's wing at the left of Lee's army, 
but was repulsed. At early dawn the next day, 
the attack was renewed and the combat raged 
all day. When night ended the bloody contest, 
the Confederates not only held their position, 
but had advanced their lines on a part of the 
field. During the entire battle, Stuart with 



90 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

his horse artillery and a small cavalry escort 
had guarded the open hilly space between Jack- 
son's left and the Potomac river. 

General Jackson in his report of this battle 
said: ^This officer (General Stuart) rendered 
valuable service throughout the day. His 
bold use of artillery secured for us an important 
position which, had the enemy possessed, might 
have commanded our left." 

The next day, Lee waited for McClellan to 
attack, but no movement came from the hostile 
camp. Finding out through Stuart's scouts 
that large bodies of fresh troops were being sent 
to McClellan, Lee withdrew that night to the 
south side of the Potomac, and by eleven o'clock 
the next morning, he was again ready to give 
battle should the Federals pursue. He had 
brought off nearly everything of value, leaving 
behind only several disabled cannon and some 
of his wounded. 

While Fitz Lee's and Munford's troops were 
left to protect the retreat of the army, Stuart 
with a small force had gone up the Potomac 
to Williamsport, hoping to divert the attention 
of the Federals from the main body of the army 
and so enable it to cross the river unhindered. 
This movement was successful, for large Federal 
forces were sent against him, yet he maintained 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 91 

his position without reenforcements until the 
night of September 20, when he recrossed the Po- 
tomac in safety. 

During this short campaign, several interesting 
incidents occurred. On one occasion, when the 
Federals were advancing toward Williamsport, a 
young lady of the town obtained permission to 
fire a cannon that was about to be discharged. 
After this, the soldiers always called that 
cannon ^^the girl of Williamsport." 

Another time. Major Von Borcke tells us that 
he accompanied the general on one of his 
favorite, yet dangerous reconnoitering expedi- 
tions outside of the Confederate lines. They 
tried to keep themselves concealed by the 
dense undergrowth, but they must have been 
observed by the pickets, for in a short while 
Major Von Borcke heard the ^^httle clicking 
sound that a saber scabbard often makes in 
knocking against a tree," and, looking quickly 
around, he saw a long line of Federal cavalry. 
A few whispered words to the general were 
enough; he and his aide put spurs to their 
horses and once more justified their reputations 
as expert horsemen, for they were soon hidden 
by the friendly trees, while their pursuers were 
firing wildly in vain search for the escaped prey. 

There were no serious engagements for the 



92 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

next few weeks and General Lee's army enjoyed 
a well deserved rest. The cavalry watched the 
movements of the Federals and protected the 
camps from alarms. The cavalry headquarters 
were delightfully situated near Charlestown on 
the plantation of Mr. A. S. Dandridge. Because 
of its beautiful grove of huge oak trees, this 
plantation was called The Bower. A comfort- 
able old brick mansion crowned the summit of a 
sloping hill on the sides of which the tents of 
the camp were located under oak trees. At 
the foot of the hill wound the sparkling little 
Opequan river. Here provisions were plentiful 
once more, and the soldiers enjoyed fishing and 
hunting the small game, — squirrels, rabbits, and 
partridges, — that abounded in the nearby woods. 

General Stuart had attached to his staff a 
remarkable young banjo player, Bob Sweeny, 
who, with the assistance of two fiddlers and 
Stuart's mulatto servant Bob who rattled the 
bones unusually well, furnished music around 
the camp fire for the men and served also on 
serenades and at dances given to the officers at 
the hospitable Dandridge mansion. 

General Stuart was very fond of dancing, and 
when some of the young officers of his staff were 
occasionally too tired and sleepy to want to join 
in the fun, he would have them awakened and 



THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 93 

ordered to attend. Yet they complained that 
when they did come the general would always 
get the prettiest girl for his own partner. 

But in spite of his joyous, fun-loving disposi- 
tion, General Stuart was always ready when 
duty called him. In his book, Christ in the 
Camp, the Rev. J. Wilham Jones says, ^^Stuart 
was an humble and earnest Christian who 
took Christ as his personal Saviour, lived a 
stainless life, and died a triumphant death." 

He tells us that General Stuart often came 
to get his advice in planning services for the 
soldiers. Once when General Stuart wanted 
Dr. Jones to recommend a chaplain for the cav- 
alry outposts, the general said, ^^I do not want a 
man who is not able to endure hardness as a 
good soldier. The man who can not endure the 
hardships and privations of our rough riding 
and hard service and be in place when needed 
would be of no earthly use to us and is not 
wanted at my headquarters." 



CHAPTER VII 

THE CHAMBERSBURG RAID 

1862 

On October 8, after a final dance and serenade 
to the ladies at The Bower, Stuart started 
out to join the forces that he had ordered to 
assemble at Darkesville, from which point he 
was to lead them on the famous '^Chambersburg 
Raid.'^ 

The purpose of this raid, which had been 
ordered by General Lee, was to march into 
Pennsylvania and Maryland and to secure 
information concerning the location of Mc- 
Clellan's army, and also to secure provisions and 
horses for the Confederate forces. 

Not a soldier of the 1,800 picked cavalrymen 
from the brigades of Hampton, Fitz Lee, and 
Robertson or the gunners under Pelham, knew 
whither they were going or for what purpose. 
Most of them, however, had been with Stuart 
on his Chickahominy Raid, and all were content 
to follow wherever he led. 

In his address to his men at the beginning of 

[ 94 1 



THE CHAMBERSBURG RAID 



95 



the expedition, Stuart said that the enterprise on 
which they were about to start demanded cool- 




MAP SHOWING THE ROUTES OF STUART S CAVALRY IN GETTYSBURG 
CAMPAIGN AND CHAMBERSBURG RAID 



96 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

ness, decision, and bravery, implicit obedience 
and the strictest order and sobriety in the camp 
and on the bivouac, but that with the hearty 
cooperation of his officers and men he had no 
doubt of a success which would reflect credit on 
them in the highest degree. 

The men in fine spirits reached the Potomac 
after dark. The next morning, they crossed the 
river at McCoy's Ford, west of McClellan's 
army which was posted north of the Potomac 
between Shepherdstown and Harper's Ferry. A 
heavy fog hung over the river valley and hid 
them from the Federal infantry which had just 
passed by. 

A signal station on Fairview Heights was 
taken by twenty men detailed for the purpose 
and then the column passed on toward Mercers- 
burg. By this time, the Federal pickets were 
aware of the raid; but as there was no large force 
of cavalry at hand, its progress was unchecked. 
On and on the little band of horsemen rode 
until at nightfall they reached Chambersburg in 
Pennsylvania. As Maryland was regarded as a 
southern State, nothing belonging to its citizens 
had been disturbed; but when Pennsylvania 
was reached, soldiers detached from the com- 
mands for that purpose, seized all suitable 
horses, giving each owner a receipt, so that he 



TTTi: (ITAiMBF.USBURC; RAID 97 

could call upon the United States government 
for payment, — thus forcing the administration 
at Washington either to help equip the Con- 
federate army or to make its own citizens suffer. 
Stuart, with his usual gallantry, gave orders that 
the men should not take the horses of ladies 
whom they might meet along the highwa3^ 

As the command approached Chambersburg 
on the night of October 10, a cold drizzling rain 
set in. Two pieces of artillery were posted so as 
to comm^and the town, and Lieutenant Thomas 
Lee with nine men was sent into the town to 
demand its surrender. No resistance was made 
and the troops were at once marched into the 
town and drawn up on the public square. 
Strict discipline was observed and only Federal 
propert}^ was used or destroyed. 

During the night, tlie rain came down in 
torrents on the wear}^, hungry Confederates. 
Surrounded by increasing dangers, Stuart with 
his staff neither rested nor slept. By that time, 
cavalry and infantry were on his track and 
every ford of the Potomac was strong!}^ guarded. 
At any time, the heavy rains might cause the 
river to rise and cut off retreat. His only hope 
was to move boldly and swiftly to a crossing 
before the water could descend from the moun- 
tains and flood the streams. Stuart decided, 



TJFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



however, not to return the way he had come, as 
large forces of Federal cavalry, like hornets, 
would be awaiting him there. He resolved to 
make another ride around McClellan's army 
and to cross at White's Ford some distance to 

?the east, so close to the Federals that 
they would not be looking for him 
there. The very boldness of the 
plan was its best guarantee of suc- 
cess and the next morning the gen- 
eral started his men on their danger- 
ous march around the enemy 

Colonel A. K. McClure of the 
Philadelphia Times, then a colonel 
in the Federal army and a resident 
of Chambersburg, gives the follow- 
ing account of Stuart as he was 
preparing to leave Chambersburg: 
^^ General Stuart sat on his horse in 
the center of the town, surrounded 
by his staff, and his command was 
coming in from the country in large 
From Original in Con- sQuads, Icadlug thclr old horses and 

federate Museum, -■■ ■' *=" 

Richmond, Va. ^j jjng the ucw oucs wlilch they had 
found in the stables hereabout. General Stuart 
is of medium stature, has a keen eye, and wore 
immense sandy whiskers and mustache. His de- 
meanor to our people is that of a humane 



Stuart's sword 



THE CHAMBERSBURO RAID 



90 



soldier. In several instances his soldiers began 
to take i)roperty from stores, but they were 
arrested by Stuart's provost guard.' 

This evidence as to the discipline of Stuart's 
men comes from a Federal officer, and shows 
fully the control that the general exercised over 
his command. 

The wounded in the Chambersburg hospital 
were paroled, the telegraph wires were cut, and 
the ordnance storehouse was blown up by brave 
Captain M. C. Butler of South Carolina, who 
now commanded 
the rear guard. He 
notified the people 
near the ordnance 
storehouse that he 
was about to set fire to it and then applied a slow 
fuse. There was a loud explosion and then the 
flames burst forth. Satisfied that his work was 




STUART S PISTOL 

From Originalin Confederate 
Museum, Richmond, Va. 




ST Dart's carbine 

From Original in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va. 

well done. Colonel Butler and his escort set out 
at a trot to rejoin the command. 



100 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

On the outskirts of the. town, there came 
galloping up from the rear a young soldier in 
gray, riding a big black horse. He wore no hat 
and one boot was gone. He was covered with 
mud and was soaking wet, for he had come into 
town with the rear guard about midnight in 
the darkness and pouring rain. The command 
had halted for a few hours in a quiet side street 
and had set out at break of day as the advance 
guard. 

The young soldier's foot had been hurt, so he 
dismounted and pulled off his boot, in order to 
ease the pain. He then concluded to lie down for 
a while and perhaps take a nap, for he was very 
tired. Tying the bridle rein to his foot, he lay 
down in the pouring rain and went to sleep. 
When he awoke, it was broad daylight and he 
was all alone. In the darkness of the cloudy 
dawn, his comrades had left him sleeping. His 
big black horse was still tied to his foot, but his 
hat, his haversack, and one of his boots were 
gone. Rising quickly, he mounted his horse 
and was trying to decide which way to go when 
an old lady raised a window near by and called 
out, ^^Sonny, your folks have gone that way." 
With a lighter heart he thanked her, and set 
off at a gallop along the Gettysburg road to 
which she had pointed. As he sped along, the 



THE CHAMBERSBURC; RAID 101 

people called out, ^^Go it, Johnny! Goodby, 
Johnny! Pliirry, Johnny!" All seemed to be 
in a good humor over the speedy departure of 
the Confederates. It was not many minutes 
before he reached the rear of Butler's detach- 
ment, and was safe. 

Soon after the break of day, the advance 
column under General Fitz Lee started towards 
Gettysburg, but at Cashtown the column turned 
south toward Emmitsburg in Mar3dand. When 
Stuart arrived at the latter place, the people 
received him with great joy and the young 
ladies of the town threw flowers at the troops. 
But in spite of this hearty welcome, the Con- 
federates could not linger, for they learned that a 
party of Federals in search of them, had passed 
only a short time before. 

Going in a steady trot without halting, Stuart 
passed on to the woods of Frederick, and 
captured a courier wath a dispatch from the 
commander of the party sent out to find him. 
From this dispatch, he learned the arrangements 
which had been made to capture him, and 
learned also that the Federals did not know just 
where he was. 

In the meantime, the Federal cavalry was 
hurrying to overtake him, but Stuart, aware of 
his extreme danger, aimed straight for the 



102 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Potomac. His tired men and horses marched all 
night, and by dawn on October 13, they reached 
Hyattstown where a few wagons were captured. 
On the march, Stuart had learned that a division 
of five thousand men was guarding the fords in 
front of him. Knowing that delay would in- 
crease his peril, he hastened on in the direction 
of Poolesville where a body of Federal cavalry 
was located. 

When within two miles of that town, guided 
by Captain White who was familiar with the 
region, he turned abruptly through some woods 
which concealed his movements and gained the 
road leading to the river about two miles dis- 
tant. Hardly had the Confederates entered this 
road when the advance squadron met the head 
of the Federal column coming from Poolesville. 
General Stuart, who was at the head of the 
squadron, ordered a charge and drove the Feder- 
als back upon the main body half a mile away. 
Thinking that Stuart was aiming to cross the 
strongly-guarded ford at the mouth of the 
Monocacy river, the Federals, instead of seizing 
this favorable opportunity to make an advance 
and crush the Confederate cavalry, waited for 
their infantry to come up. 

In the meanwhile. General Fitz Lee's sharp- 
shooters leaped from their horses and went 



THE CHAMBERSBURO RAID 103 

forward while one of Pclham's guns was brought 
up. Under cover of its fire and screened from 
view by the ridge upon which it was placed, 
General Lee's command moved on by a farm 
road to White's Ford. 

AYhen General Lee reached White's Ford, he 
found a force of tv/o hundred Federal infantry 
so strongly posted on the steep bank over- 
looking the ford that a crossing seemed im- 
possible. Infantry in front and cavalry in the 
rear! Would it be possible to escape from the 
snare by which they were surrounded? Nothing 
but boldness and swiftness could save them. 
General Lee sent a courier to General Stuart 
who was on the Poolesville road with Pelham's 
guns and the skirmishers keeping back Federal 
troopers until the rear guard should come up. 

'^I do not believe that the ford can be crossed/' 
said General Lee. 

Stuart replied, ^^I am occupied in the rear, but 
the ford must be crossed at all hazards." 

General Lee, therefore, prepared to attack the 
Federal infantry in its strong position on the 
bluff One part of his force was to assail it in 
front and on the left flank, while a strong body 
of cavalry endeavored to cross and hold the 
ford. Lee hoped to be able to get one gun placed 
on the opposite bank and then to fire on the 
Federal rear. 



104 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

While making his hurried preparations, it 
occurred to General Lee to try a game of ^^bluff ." 
Under flag of truce, he sent a note to the Federal 
commander, saying that General Stuart's whole 
command was in his front and needless blood- 
shed would be avoided if he would surrender. 
Fifteen minutes was allowed him to consider 
this demand. 

After fifteen minutes' anxious waiting and no 
reply, General Fitz Lee opened with his artillery 
and was preparing to advance his horsemen, 
when it was seen that the Federals, with flags 
flying and band playing, • were retreating in 
perfect order down the river. 

A wild cheer broke from the Confederates 
as some of their men rushed across the ford to 
place a piece of artillery at the top of the steep 
bank on the Virginia side of the Potomac. 
Another gun was hurried forward and placed so 
as to sweep the tow-path and the approaches 
to the ford, while the long line of cavalrymen 
and captured horses passed rapidly across to 
safety. Once more Stuart had slipped through 
the hands of his enemy. 

In the meanwhile, Pelham held the Federals 
in check until all but the rear guard under 
Colonel Butler had passed. Then he began to 
withdraw, making his last stand on the Maryland 



THE CHAMBEKSBURG RAID 105 

side of the ford, where he fired up and down the 
river at the Federal cavahy now advancing in 
both directions. But the rear guard was still far 
behind. Major McClellan tells us that Gen- 
eral Stuart had sent back four couriers to hurry 
up Colonel Butler; still he did not come. In 
this dilemma, Captain Blackford volunteered 
to find him. 

Stuart paused a moment and then extending 
his hand said, ^^All right! and if we do not meet 
again, good-by, old fellow." 

Blackford galloped off and found Butler with 
his own regiment and the North Carolina 
detachment and one gun, engaged in delaying 
the advance of the enemy in the Poolesville 
road. Blackford rode rapidly toward him and 
shouted, ^'General Stuart says, 'Withdraw at a 
gallop, or you will be cut off.' " 

''But," rephed Butler, with great coolness, 
"I don't think I can bring off that gun. The 
horses can't move it." 

"Leave the gun and save your men!" replied 
Blackford. 

"Well, we'll see what can be done," said 
Butler, and then he ordered the drivers to 
make one more effort. That time they were 
successful. The weary horses pulled the wheels 
out of the mudhole and the gun went rattling 



106 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

down the road, followed by the tardy but 
gallant rear guard. The Federal cavalry and 
artillery were following and infantry was ap- 
proaching in two directions; but the rear guard 
slipped through the net, dashed rapidly across 
the ford, and soon was safe in Virginia. 

The joy of the men and their commander at 
the success of their expedition was unbounded. 
The Federals were near enough to hear the 
Confederate cheers that greeted General Stuart 
as he rode along his lines on the Virginia side. 

In the official report of the expedition, Stuart 
claimed no personal credit, but closed the 
report by saying, ^ ^Believing that the hand of 
God was clearly manifested in the deliverance 
of my command from danger and the crowning 
success attending it, I ascribe to him the praise, 
the honor, and the glory." 

The march of the Confederate cavalry from 
Chambersburg is one of the most remarkable 
in history. In thirty-six hours, the Confeder- 
ates rode ninety miles, going completely around 
the Union army. They carried off hundreds of 
horses, and recrossed the Potomac in the pres- 
ence of vastly superior forces of the Federals. 
Only one man was wounded and two stragglers 
were captured. 

General Stuart himself, however, suffered a 




GENERAL STUART IN 18G2 [10"/ 

Prom an original negative by Cooke, the only negative from life that is extant 



IDS LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

heavy personal loss, for his servant Bob who 
rattled the bones so well, got separated from the 
column, with two of the general's favorite 
horses, Skylark and Lady Margaret. He 
wrote his wife that he hoped that they had 
fallen into the hands of the good secessionists at 
Emmitsburg, for he could not bear to think of 
the Federals having his favorite horses. 

The horses of the Federal cavalry had been so 
worn out in pursuit of the wily Stuart that 
remounts were necessary before the cavalry 
could again advance into Virginia. The whole 
North was astonished and indignant that Stuart 
had again ridden completely around the Union 
army and had again made his escape. 

To the South, Stuart was a peerless hero and 
he was welcomed with great acclamation. A 
lady of Baltimore, as a token of her apprecia- 
tion of his gallantry, sent him a pair of gold 
spurs. He was very proud of these and in his 
intimate letters after this, he sometimes signed 
himself, "K. G. S.", or ^Ivnight of the Golden 
Spurs/' 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE CAVALRY AT CULPEPER AND 
FREDERICKSBURG 

1862-'63 

The brief space of two days was all the time 
given to the m'en and horses of Stuart's com- 
mand to rest and enjoy hfe at The Bower, 
before they were again called out to active 
service. General IMcClcllan had sent two large 
forces of infantry and cavalry across the river 
to find out whether General Lee's army was 
still in the Valley or whether it had moved east 
of the Blue Ridge mountains. After several 
skirmishes with Stuart's cavalry, these troops 
retired, convinced that Lee was still in the 
Valley. 

On October 26, McClellan crossed the 
Potomac and the weather continuing fine, he 
advanced his entire army to begin an autumn 
campaign against Lee. A week later, his forces 
began to advance toward Washington, a little 
village northwest of Culpeper and near the 
headwaters of the Rappahannock. This posi- 
tion was desirable because it would give an easy 

[ 109 ] 



no 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



route toward Richmond. General Lee, how- 
ever, sent Longstreet at once with some of the 

cavalry to head 
off the Federals at 
Culpeper, while 
Jackson was to re- 
main in the Valley 
and threaten their 
rear. 

in the mean- 
time, Stuart bade 
a final farewell to 
his pleasant camp 
quarters and his 
friends at the Dan- 
dridge mansion. 
His force fell slowly 
back toward Cul- 
peper, contesting 
every inch of 
ground against the overwhelming numbers 
of the Federal cavalry. Sharp encounters took 
place at Union, Middleburg, and Upperville, 
in which the artillery under Pelham did wonder- 
fully daring and effective work. In these en- 
counters, the Federals lost nearly tw^ce as many 
men as did the Confederates, but it was im- 
possible for Stuart^s small forces to hold any 




MAJOR JOHN PELHAM 



CAXALKY AT CUT.PKPKl^ 111 

permanent ground against the greatly superior 
numbers now marching against him. 

At Ashby's Gap, General Stuart cam^e near 
being cut off from his own forces. He had 
commanded Colonel Rosser to hold this gap 
while he, accompanied by a few members of his 
staff, rode across the mountain for a conference 
with General Jackson. When Stuart returned 
the next day, after a hard ride over a little-used 
mountain trail, what was his surprise on reach- 
ing a point just above what had been his own 
camp, to find the place literally swarming with 
blue-coats. 

Rosser "had found it necessary to withdraw 
before the superior numbers of the Federals and 
his couriers v/ho went to inform Stuart of this 
fact had missed the general who had returned 
by a short cut across the mountain. He and 
his men were indeed in a serious predicament, 
and had they not found a mountaineer, who 
knew the trails on the other side of the moun- 
tain, there is no telling when or where General 
Stuart would have joined his command. He 
was guided safely to Barber's Cross Roads where 
his forces had retreated and he made the simple 
and faithful mountaineer happy with a fifty- 
dollar note. 

On November 10, there was an engagement 



112 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

at Barber's Cross Roads, -and the Confederate 
cavalry was forced to retreat through Orleans 
and across the Rappahannock at Waterloo 
Bridge. That night Stuart received the news 
of the death of his dear little daughter, Flora. 
For some time he had known of her serious 
illness, and the doctor had written that he must 
come home if he wished to see her, but he knew 
that his country needed him to hold the Federal 
cavalry in check. 

When the second urgent call reached him on 
the field of battle near Union, he wrote Mrs. 
Stuart: ^'I was at no loss to decide that it was 
my duty to you and to Flora to rernain here. 
I am entrusted with the conduct of affairs, the 
issue of which will affect you, her, and the 
mothers and children of our whole country much 
miore seriously than we can believe. 

^^If my darling's case is hopeless, there are ten 
chances to one that I will get to Lynchburg too 
late; if she is convalescent, why should my 
presence be necessary? She was sick nine days 
before I knew it. Let us trust in the good God 
who has blessed us so much, that He will spare 
our child to us, but if it should please Him to 
take her from us, let us bear it with Christian 
fortitude and resignation." 

Major Von Borcke, who opened the telegram 



CAVALRY AT CULPEPER 113 

telling of the child's death, says that when the 
general read it he was completely overcome, but 
that he bore his loss most bravely, especially 
when Mrs. Stuart came to visit him a few days 
later at Culpeper. 

He never forgot his ^ ^little darling" and often 
talked of her to Von Borcke, who says very 
prettily: ^Tight blue flowers recalled her eyes to 
him; in the glancing sunbeams he caught the 
golden tinge of her hair, and whenever he saw 
a child with such eyes and hair he could not 
help tenderly embracing it. He thought of her 
on his deathbed, and drawing me to him he 
whispered, ^My dear friend, I shall soon be with 
my little Flora again.'" 

Yet such a father could put aside his own 
feelings when he felt that his country needed 
him. ' Duty to God and his country were his 
watchwords, and this high and unselfish sense of 
duty and patriotism was the foundation of his 
greatness both as a man and a soldier. 

The cavalry fell back from Waterloo Bridge to 
join Longstreet at Culpeper, but every day it 
was engaged in sharp skirmishes with the 
Federal cavalry. In one of these engagements, 
General Stuart had an amusing experience that 
narrowly escaped being a serious one. JNIajor 
Von Borcke tells us that while his cavalry was 



114 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

being forced back under a very heavy fire, 
Stuart in endeavoring to make it hold its 
position, uselessly but according to his custom, 
exposed his own person on horseback by riding 
out of the wood into an open field where he and 
his aide were excellent targets for their enemies. 
Von Borcke remonstrated, but the general, who 
could not bear to have the day go against him, 
curtly said to his young aide, ^^If it is too hot 
for you, you can retire." 

Of course. Von Borcke remained in his position 
at the general's side, but he did shelter himself 
from the rain of bullets, behind a convenient 
tree. From this position, a few moments later 
he saw Stuart raise his hand quickly to his 
beloved mustache, one half of which had been 
neatly cut away by a whistling bullet. 

As a result of their heavy and continuous 
marching, the horses of Stuart's troops were in 
bad condition, many of them having sore 
tongues and a disease known as ^ ^grease heel"; 
in spite of this and the absence of man^^ men 
who had gone home to procure fresh horses, 
the services now rendered by the cavalry were 
invaluable. General Lee said in his report of 
this campaign that the vigilance, activity, and 
courage of the cavalry were conspicuous, and to 
its assistance was due in a great measvire the 



CAVALRY AT (^TLPEPER 115 

success of some of the army's most important 
operations. 

While General Lee was awaiting the move- 
ments of the Federal army, an event happened 
which changed the entire aspect of military 
affairs. General ^IcClellan was removed from 
command and General Burnside was put in his 
place. General McClellan had been too slow 
and cautious to suit the authorities at Washing- 
ton; so, much to the delight of the Confederate 
government, this abl e gen eral was removed just 
as his campaign had begun. 

General Burnside remained at Warrenton ten 
days in order to reorganize his army into three 
divisions. Then he began to move his forces 
toward Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock 
river. This movement was at once observed 
by Stuart and reported to General Lee who 
immediately began to move troops toward 
Fredericksburg. When Burnside 's forces reached 
the northern bank of the river, they found the 
town in Lee's possession and the heights to the 
south of it crowned by his artillery. 

General Lee now ordered General Jackson 
to come from the Valley to join him. While 
waiting for this reenforcement, he began to con- 
struct earthworks for his artillery and to dig 
rifle-pits for his infantry on the range of hills 



116 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

extending in a semicircle for five miles south of 
^the river. Here with Hampton guarding the left 
wing of the army and Stuart the right, the Con- 
federates camped in comparative quiet until 
early in December. 

During this period, there were several heavy 
snowstorms which the soldiers enjoyed like so 
many schoolboys. Major Yon Borcke tells of a 
snow battle when several hundred men of 
McLaws' division charged across a snow-covered 
plain half a mile wide, on the quarters of Hood's 
division. Suddenly Hood's whole division, led 
by its officers with colors flying, advanced 
against the attacking party which was driven 
back some distance. Then receiving reenforce- 
ments from their own division, the men rallied 
and threw up entrenchments behind which they 
made a stand. The air was white with flying 
snowballs, and the contest waxed hottest just at 
at Stuart's headquarters where he stood on a box 
and cheered the contestants. Hood's men finally 
drove their opponents from the snow entrench- 
ments, and would have routed them utterly, 
had not Anderson's division come up to assist 
their fleeing comrades. With these reenforce- 
ments, McLaws' men suddenly turned and drove 
Hood's division back home. From these sham 
battles, the army turned soon to real warfare. 



C^AVALRY AT CULPEPER 117 

General Burnsidc had i)osted guns on Staf- 
ford Heights opposite Fredericksburg and on 
December 10, he shelled the town. Then his 
splendid army of 116,000 men crossed the river 
on pontoon bridges, and on the morning of De- 
cember 13, it stormed Lee's position. The battle 
raged all da}^, but the Federals were repulsed at 
all points and when night closed, the Confede- 
rates were still holding their position. 

This battle of Fredericksburg offered little 
opportunity for cavalry charges, but General 
Fitz Lee kept watch over the fords on the Con- 
federate left, while General W. H. F. Lee was 
posted on the right. Stuart also remained on 
the right as it was the weakest part of the line, 
and was in constant conference with Lee and 
Jackson. 

As the Federals made their first advance 
against the troops of Jackson at Hamilton's 
Crossing near the extreme right. Major Pelham 
of the Stuart Horse Artillery in an exposed 
position opened a cross fire with one gun and 
caused them to halt for over an hour. Five 
Federal batteries opened upon him, but he con- 
tinued to fire until withdrawn by Stuart. 

Both General Lee and General Jackson were 
on the extreme right and witnessed the wonder- 
ful work done by Major Pelham's gun. Both 



118 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

of them in their reports of this battle mentioned 
the genius and bravery of the young Alabamian. 

General Jackson asked General Stuart, ^'Have 
3^ou another Pelham, general? If so, I wish that 
you would give him to me." 

General Lee expected the battle to be re- 
newed the next morning, but Burnside remained 
quiet, and, on the night of December 15, in a 
violent storm of wind and rain, he withdrew to 
the opposite bank. 

It soon became evident that Burnside had no 
intention of renewing the combat, but was pre- 
paring to pass the winter on the Stafford hills 
on the northern side of the river. General 
Lee's army, therefore, w^ent into winter quarters 
along the south bank of the Rappahannock. 
The infantry and artillery built snug log huts, 
and began, in spite of the want of good rations 
and warm clothes, to enjoy the rest from 
marching and fighting. 

The cavalry, however, had no rest, for upon 
its vigilance depended the safety of the army. 
It observed the Federal movements, watched 
the fords of the river, and made continual raids 
to the rear of Burnside 's army. 

On December 20, General Stuart set out 
with 1,800 men under the command of his 
tried and true generals, Hampton, Fitz Lee, 



CAVALRY AT CULPEPEK 



119 



and W. H. F. Lee, on what is known as the 
''Dumfries Raid." They were to pass by dif- 
ferent routes to the rear of Burnside's army, to 
cut his hne of communication with Washington 
city, and to destroy all w^agons and stores that 
they could not bring off. 




From a war-time photograph 
CONFEDERATES DESTROYING RAILROAD 

Stuart led his forces between various army- 
posts that guarded the rear of Burnside's army, 
avoiding the strongest and attacking others 
which he knew to be weak or ignorant of his 
approach. He at last marched north to Burke's 



120 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Station, where his keen sense of humor caused 
him to play a joke on the authorities at Wash- 
ington. 

He surprised the telegraph operator at the 
instrument, just as he was receiving a message 
from headquarters at the capital, telling of 
measures which were being taken to capture 
Stuart's command. Having thus gained im- 
portant information, Stuart put one of his own 
men in the operator's place and sent a message 
to Meigs, the quartermaster general at Wash- 
ington. 

''I am much satisfied with the transport of mules lately 
sent, which I have taken possession of, and request that 
you send me a fresh supply. 

J. E. B. Stuart." 

This message produced great consternation in 
Washington, where the people were as afraid of 
Stuart and his cavalry as they were of the whole 
Confederate army. 

After thus revealing his whereabouts, Stuart 
marched quickly back to Culpeper Courthouse, 
which he reached on December 30, having 
lost on the raid, one killed, thirteen wounded, 
and fourteen missing. About twenty wagons 
and some stores had been captured. This was 
the fourth raid that Stuart had made around or 



CAVALRY AT CULPEPER 



121 



to the rear of the Federals, without capture or 
serious loss. 

The Rev. Dr. Dabney in his Life of Stonewall 
Jackson tells us that during this winter, General 
Jackson had for his headquarters a hunting 
lodge near Moss Neck. Here he was often 




From a war-time photograph 
FEDERALS REPAIRING! RAILROAD WHICH CONFEDERATES HAD DESTROYED 



visited by General Stuart on his rounds of 
official duty. These visits were always welcome 
to Jackson who admired and loved the 3^oung 
cavalry leader and they were the signal of fun 
for the young men of the staff. While Stuart 
poured out ' 'equips and cranks/' often at Jack- 



122 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

son's expense, the latter sat by, silent and 
blushing, but enjoying the jests with a quiet 
laugh. 

The walls of the lodge were ornamented with 
pictures which gave Stuart many a topic for- 
jokes. Pretending to believe that they had 
been selected by Jackson himself, he would point 
now to the portrait of a famous race horse and 
now to the print of a dog noted for his hunting 
feats, and remark that they showed queer taste 
for a devout Presbyterian. Once Jackson, with 
a smile, replied that perhaps in his youth he had 
been fonder of race horses than his friends sus- 
pected. 

One day, in the midst of a gay conversation, 
dinner was announced and the two generals 
with their aides passed to the mess table. 
The center of the table was graced by a print of 
butter upon which was impressed the image of a 
rooster. It had been presented to Jackson by a 
lady of the neighborhood and had been placed 
upon the table in honor of Stuart, 

As the eyes of the gay young general fell upon 
it, they sparkled with glee and he exclaimed, 
^^See there, gentlemen! We have the crowning 
evidence of our host's sporting tastes. He even 
puts his favorite gamecock upon his butter!" 

The dinner, of course, began with merry 



CAVALRY AT CULPEPER 123 

laughter in which General Jackson joined with 
much zest. 

In patriotism, in bravery, and in military skill, 
says Dr. Dabney, these two men were kindred 
spirits, but Stuart's cheerfulness and humor 
were the opposites of Jackson's serious and 
diffident temper. 

Though bitter cold weather had now set in, 
General Burnside resolved to make an effort to 
turn the right of General Lee's army and drive 
him from his winter quarters at Fredericksburg. 
This attempt, however, was unsuccessful, and 
General Burnside's failure at Fredericksburg 
caused him to be replaced by General Joseph 
Hooker, called ^Tighting Joe Hooker.' 

Hooker reorganized the army into corps; and 
made one corps of the cavalry, with tried and 
skillful officers. He also provided the cavalry 
with the best horses and equipments that money 
could procure. He realized that the Federal 
cavalry had never been fit to contend success- 
fully with Stuart and the forces under his com- 
mand, and so now did all in his power to 
strengthen this branch of the Federal service. 
By the early spring, Hooker had his army com- 
pletely reorganized and ready to begin a cam- 
paign against General Lee. 



CHAPTER IX 
CHANCELLORSVILLE 

1863 

In the meanwhile, General Lee's soldiers 
across the Rappahannock river suffered greatly 
for want of proper food and clothing during the 
long cold winter. The appeals of their beloved 
commander to the Confederate government 
were not heeded; but the soldiers endured their 
privations with great fortitude and when 
spring arrived, they were ready for the coming 
great battle with the army of ^Tighting Joe 
Hooker.'' 

On March 17, St. Patrick's Day, there was 
a cavalry engagement at Kelly's Ford, near 
Culpeper, where General Fitz Lee won a re- 
markable victory over a large force of Federal 
cavalry under Brigadier-General Averell. Lee, 
who was stationed at Culpeper, had only 
about 800 men to meet more than 2,000 
Federals, but he disposed his forces with such 
skill and fought so stubbornly that Averell, 
in spite of the fact that he had a large force in 
reserve, was unable to break Lee's thin lines 
and retreated across the river. 

[ 124 ] 



CHANCET.LORSVILLE 125 

General Stuart happened to be at Culpeper, 
attending a court martial, when this engage- 
ment occurred. He saw how skillfully Lee was 
handhng the situation and unselfishly refused to 
assume command, wishing his able brigadier 
general to win all the glory of repulsing such a 
large force. 

In this battle, John Pelham, Stuart's young 
chief of artillery of whom we have so often 
spoken, was killed. He had accompanied Stuart 
to Culpeper, merely on a visit of pleasure, but 
when he heard the call of Confederate artillery, 
even though it was not his own guns, he im- 
mediately went forward to take part in the 
engagement. Borrowing a horse from Bob 
Sweeny, he hurried to the battle ground. He 
rushed into the thickest of the fray, to rally a 
regiment that was beginning to waver. 

Just as he shouted, ^Torward, boys! forward 
to victory and glory!" he was mortally wounded 
by a fragment of a shell. 

The whole South mourned the death of this 
young hero. James R. Randall, the author of 
''Maryland, My Maryland," said of him: 

"Gentlest and bravest in the battle brunt, 
The Champion of the Truth, 
He bore the banner to the very front 
Of our immortal youth." 



126 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

His body was carried to Richmond and lay in 
state in the Capitol, until it could be borne under 
proper military escort to his native state, 
Alabama. Stuart, who loved Pelham like a son, 
went to Richmond to be present at the funeral. 

When he wrote Mrs. Stuart of the young 
hero's death, he said, ^^His record is complete and 
it is spotless and noble. His character pure and 
his disposition as sweet and innocent as our 
child." The general had a strong personal 
affection for the young men of his staff and the 
death of Pelham was as great a grief to Stuart 
as it was a loss to the army. 

Stuart's men and horses were greatly 
weakened by the heavy and almost constant 
skirmishes, picket duty, and raids in which they 
had been engaged since the fall. On the other 
hand, the Federal cavalry, just reorganized into 
one splendid corps under the command of 
Major-General George Stoneman, was in better 
condition than ever before. General Hooker 
depended upon this large and finely-equipped 
force to open a campaign which would prove 
fatal to General Lee's army. 

General Stoneman was ordered to cross the 
Rappahannock river at one of the fords in 
Culpeper county and, after dispersing the small 
force of Confederate cavalry in that vicinity, 



CHANCELLORSV I \A.V 1 27 

to proceed toward Richmond, destroying the 
Central Raih'oad, capturing all supply stations, 
and doing all possible damage along the Pamun- 
key river. He was then to proceed to the 
Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, and by 
breaking up that road and burning certain 
bridges, to cut General Lee's army off from 
Richmond. As soon as Stoneman started on his 
raid, the ^^Grand Army," as it was called, under 
General Hooker himself, was to move to 
Chancellorsville about ten miles southwest of 
Fredericksburg. Thus General Lee was to be 
forced to come out of his entrenched position 
and to give battle on ground of Hooker's own 
choosing. 

Several bodies of Federal cavalry tried to 
cross at various fords on the Rappahannock and 
Rapidan rivers, but were repulsed by small 
bodies of watchful Confederate pickets. The 
rivers were now rising rapidly from the .usual 
spring rains, and the Rappahannock became so 
swollen that the advance of Stoneman w^as 
checked for two weeks. Many of Stuart's 
troopers were absent for various reasons and 
he had only about two thousand men with 
whom to guard the fords and to cover a front 
of more than fifty miles. 

On the afternoon of April 24, three corps of 



128 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



Federal infantry appeared at Kelly's Ford. A 
strong party crossed in boats and drove the 
pickets from the ford. They then laid a pontoon 
bridge; and during the night, the Twelfth Army 
Corps passed to the southern shore. The next 
morning, Stuart learned that the entire Grand 
Army was on the move. He telegraphed this 




From a war-time photograph 

A PONTOON BRIDGE 
Made by laying timbers on wooden or canvas boats 

information to General Lee who ordered Stuart 
at once to swing around the Federal divisions 
that had crossed the river and join him at 
Fredericksburg. General W. H. F. tee with 
only two regiments — a small force but all that 



CHANCELLORSVILLE 120 

could be spared — was sent to protect the 
Central Railroad from Stoneman's cavalry. 

Stuart, skirmishing day and night with the 
Federal cavalry, marched rapidly to the help of 
Lee. As the cavalry passed at night through 
the dark forest lighted only by the faint rays of a 
crescent moon, they had frequent alarms and 
several encounters with small forces of the 
Federal cavalry already posted in the woods. 

At one time, Stuart, accompanied by only a 
few officers of his staff, was riding some distance 
ahead of his brigade, and met such a large 
Federal force that he was compelled to take flight. 
Later, when riding at the head of a regiment 
that he had called up as an advance guard, 
he suddenly encountered several regiments of 
hostile cavalry drawn up across a field in line of 
battle. Stuart's small force became panic- 
stricken. All efforts of the general to rally his 
men were in vain and he was compelled a second 
time to retreat hastily. It seemed for a time 
that he would be cut off from his forces, but 
Colonel Munford came up with his regiment, 
charged gallantly, captured most of the at- 
tacking Federals, and left the road again open. 
Several such skirmishes occurred and the troops 
were rendered almost panic-stricken by these 
unlooked-for attacks. In the darkness, they 



130 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

often fired on each other instead of on their foe, 
and they feared an ambush at each turn of the 
road. Altogether, it was a march of doubt and 
danger, but they finally reached Lee's army 
without serious loss. 

Chancellorsville, to which place the main 
army of General Hooker was being moved, was 
not a town, but merely a large farmhouse sur- 
rounded by the usual outbuildings. Toward 
Fredericksburg ten miles distant, the country 
was somewhat open; but in every other direc- 
tion it was covered with tall pines and with 
dense thickets of scrub oaks and many other 
kinds of trees and flowering plants. This forest, 
called '^the Wilderness,'' was about twenty 
miles long and fifteen broad. It was traversed 
by two good roads, the Plank road and the old 
Turnpike; it was along these roads, the posses- 
sion of which would, of course, be hotly con- 
tested by the Federal troops, that General Lee 
would have to send his forces to attack General 
Hooker in his strong position at Chancellors- 
ville. 

But on the night of the first of May, just after 
the first skirmishing had occurred along these 
two roads, Stuart brought information that 
changed the situation decidedly. He rode up 
about eleven o'clock to an old fallen tree where 



CHANCELLORSVILLE 131 

Lee and Jackson were talking over the plans 
for the next day, and reported that while 
Hooker had fortified his position at Chancellors- 
ville on the east, the south, and the southwest, 
upon the north and the west he had no defences. 
At the same time, information had been secured 
concerning an old road by which a circuit could 
be made around Hooker's army. Jackson at 
once conceived the idea of making a forced 
march by this road so as to attack Hooker in the 
rear on the next day. Lee agreed, as on this 
plan seemed to depend their one chance of 
success. 

Th6 next morning, General Lee with about 
14,000 men remained in front of the Federals on 
the Plank and Turnpike roads, while Jackson 
with three divisions marched fifteen miles 
through the forest and about three o'clock in 
the afternoon reached the rear of Hooker's army 
on the west. General Fitz Lee with the First 
Virginia cavalry led the advance while the 
other regiments of cavalry protected the right 
of Jackson's line of march. Colonel Munford, 
commander of one of these regiments, was 
familiar with this part of the country and 
rendered valuable service as a guide to Jackson. 

As Jackson's command marched first directly 
south by the Furnace road, Federal scouts, who 



132 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

were spying from the tops of tall pine trees, 
thought that Lee's army was in full retreat. 
They carried this report to Hooker who sent 
forward two divisions to attack the marching 
column. By that time, Jackson had turned 
to the west and, completely screened by trees 
and undergrowth, was marching rapidly along 
the old road. The rear of his column, however, 
was attacked near Catherine Furnace. This 
attack was soon checked by McLaws, whom 
Lee sent forward from his small force, and by 
two regiments sent back by Jackson when he 
heard the firing in his rear. 

While the infantry was swinging along the 
forest road, the cavalry had reached the Plank 
road, near Chancellorsville, and was await- 
ing General Jackson. Fitz Lee, impatient at 
the delay, rode toward the Federal line, and 
found to his surprise that it was near at hand 
and in full view from his post of observation. 
The Federals did not dream that the Confeder- 
ates could reach the road at this point and so had 
no guards stationed there. 

Afterwards Fitz Lee thus described the scene: 
'^Below and but a few hundred yards distant, 
ran the Federal line of battle. There was the 
line of defense and long lines of stacked arms in 
the rear. Two caAnons were visible in the part 



CHANCELLORSVILLE 133 

of the line seen. The soldiers were in groups in 
the rear, laughing, chatting, smoking; probably 
engaged, here and there, in a game of cards and 
other amusements indulged in when feeling safe 
and awaiting orders. In the rear were other 
persons driving up and butchering beeves.'^ 

Realizing the importance of his discovery, 
Lee rode back to meet Jackson and guided him to 
the same place of observation. Jackson im- 
mediately placed his troops in position on the 
turnpike and ordered them to advance and 
attack the unsuspecting enemy. As long as the 
dense growth and rough ground permitted, 
Stuart and his cavalry guarded the left flank. 
After a rapid march through the tangled 
thickets, the men rushed forward with wild 
cheers and dashed upon the unsuspecting 
Federals as they were cooking their suppers. 
The panic-stricken Federal soldiers rushed back 
upon their center, and as the terror spread, 
after them went horses, wagons, cannon, men — • 
speeding to recross the Rappahannock. The 
officers tried in vain to stop the fleeing men. 
For a while, the panic was so great that the des- 
st ruction of Hooker's army seemed certain. 

After pursuing the Federals for two hours until 
they were within half a mile of Hooker's head- 
quarters at the Chancellor house, the Con- 



134 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

federates stopped in the darkness to reform. 
Just at this critical moment, General Hooker 
succeeded in bringing up reenforcements and 
posted fresh artillery in the edge of the woods on 
Hazel Grove, a small hill in front of General 
Jackson's assaulting column. Still, however, 
the soldiers in gray advanced. General A. P. 
Hill's division was now ordered to the front to 
take charge of the pursuit. While he was en- 
gaged in forming his lines, General Jackson with 
several aides and couriers rode down the Plank 
road nearly to the defenses around Chancellors- 
ville. As they were returning, they were fired 
upon by some of their own men who had been 
posted in the thickets and who, in the moon- 
light, mistook Jackson and his escort for Federal 
cavalry. 

General Jackson was wounded and was borne 
from the field. A little later, General Hill also 
was wounded. Jackson then sent for Stuart 
who had been ordered to hold the road to Ely's 
Ford, one of the Federal lines of retreat. 

As soon as Stuart received the sad news that 
Jackson had been wounded, he placed Fitz Lee 
in command of the force holding the road and 
hastened into the heart of the Wilderness. It 
was midnight when he arrived at the front and 
according to Jackson's orders assumed com- 
mand of the victorious but wearied corps. 




GENER.\L STONEWALL JACKSON 
From an original negative by Cooke, the last photograph made of General Jackson 

[ 135] 



136 - LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Stuart, not knowing Jackson's plans for 
completing the movement, sent an aide to 
Jackson to request instructions. 

General Jackson replied, 'Tell General Stuart 
to act upon his own judgment and do what he 
thinks best. I have implicit trust in him." 

Such a message from his loved chieftain must 
have meant much to the young general who 
found himself suddenly confronted with such a 
serious situation, and the next day he proved 
that Jackson had not trusted him in vain. 

First of all, it was necessary that Stuart, who 
had been absent from the front sometime, should 
have a clear idea of the position of his men and 
of the Federals. He, therefore, at once called a 
meeting of the infantry commanders. As a 
result of this consultation, it was decided to 
defer until the next morning the attack upon the 
strong fortifications around Chancellorsville. 
The rest of the night was spent by the officers 
in preparations for the coming assault; the men 
lay upon their arms and took a brief rest. 

When morning dawned, the guns of Lee, who 
was working his way along the two main roads 
to join Jackson, thundered on the east and the 
south, and those of Stuart answered on the west. 
In both wings of Lee^s army, the battle raged 
furiously. After many assaults, Hazel Grove 



CHANCELLORSVILLE 137 

where the Federal artillery and infantry were 
posted in force, was taken by Stuart. Then 
arose a mighty struggle for the clearing around 
the Chancellor house. Stuart ordered thirty 
pieces of artillery to be posted so as to sweep 
the clearing with canister and grapeshot. Under 
this fire, his own men advanced, Stuart himself 
leading two of the charges. One of his officers 
said that he ^ ^looked like a very god of battle.^' 
As he rode forward at the head of his forces, he 
sang at the top of his clear voice which could be 
heard above the din of battle, 

''Old Joe Hooker, 
Won't you come out of the wilderness?'* 

At the third assault, the works were carried 
and connection was made with General Lee^s 
force. By ten o'clock, the Chancellor house and 
the woods around it, full of wounded men, were 
on fire from the bursting shells. The Con- 
federate flag floated proudly in the clearing 
around the house and the Confederate army 
was again united, while Hooker's forces in full 
retreat were swept back into the woods north of 
Chancellorsville. 

A great southern historian and military critic. 
General Alexander, says '^the promptness and 
boldness with which Stuart assumed command, 
and led the ranks of Jackson, thinned by their 



138 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

hard day's march and fighting to not more than 
20,000 men, against Hooker's 80,000 soldiers 
was one of the most brilliant deeds of the war.'' 
While the battle of Chancellorsville was in 
progress, Stoneman, the Federal cavalry leader, 
had crossed the Rappahannock and was march- 
ing toward Richmond. General W. H. F. Lee fol- 
lowed him with two regiments and so hindered 
his line of march that the Federal general, in 
spite of his excellent cavalry, was forced to re- 
tire with few spoils and little glory. Stoneman 
was soon after relieved of his command, and 
Pleasanton was put in his place as major gen- 
eral of the Federal cavalry. 



CHAPTER X 
THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 
1863 

Soon after the battle of Chancel] orsville, 
Lee's army was reenforced by the return of 
Longstreet's corps, which had been for some 
time at Suffolk, Va., and the cavalry was in- 
creased by the addition of new regiments from 
North Carolina and the Shenandoah Valley. 
Lee's total forces were now about 80,000 and 
his men, encouraged by their recent victory, 
were in good fighting trim. Lee decided to carry 
the scene of war once more into northern terri- 
tory. He hoped to form a line of battle near 
the Susquehanna river in the fertile fields of 
Pennsylvania, where he could force the Federals 
to fight on ground of his own choosing. The 
next weeks were spent in preparation for this 
northward movement. 

On June 6, there was a cavalry review on the 
open plain between Culpeper Courthouse and 
Brandy Station. Great preparations had been 
made for this review. Each trooper had burnish- 
ed his weapons and trappings and rubbed down 

[ 139 1 



140 LIFE OF J. E. B, STUART 

his much-enduring charger^ in order that they 
might make the best appearance possible. 
Visitors, especially many ladies, from all the 
country round attended the magnificent spec- 
tacle. 

Stuart and his entire staff took their position 
on a little grassy knoll. Eight thousand troopers 
and sixteen pieces of horse artillery passed before 
him in columns of squadrons, — first at a walk, 
then at a gallop — while the guns of a battery on 
a hill opposite the reviewing stand fired at 
regular intervals. 

An eyewitness of the scene tells us that Stuart 
^Vas superbly mounted. The trappings on his 
proud, prancing horse all looked bright and new 
and his sidearms gleamed in the morning sun 
like burnished silver. A long black ostrich plume 
waved gracefully from a drab slouch hat cocked 
up on one side and held by a clasp which also 
stayed the plume." 

The same authority, Gunner Neese, tells an 
amusing story about himself during this review. 
He says that, as acting first sergeant of his 
battery, he was riding at the head of the horse 
artillery, mounted on a mule with ears about a 
foot long. Just before the artillery arrived at 
the reviewing stand, the searching eye of General 
Stuart, who was very fastidious in all things, 



THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 141 

spied the waving ears of the mule and he quickly 
dispatched an aide to tell the captain to order 
the mule and his rider off the field. Neese says 
that he was not greatly surprised at the order, 
but that the mule was. 

For sometime General Hooker had wanted to 
know what was going on behind the dense 
screen of cavalry that Stuart had collected at 
Culpeper, for it was evident that General Lee 
was planning an important movement. Just 
two days after the big review, Hooker sent to 
find out, and for once tjie Federal cavalry took 
Stuart by surprise. General Pleasanton marched 
cautiously to the north bank of the Rappahan- 
nock, at Beverly's Ford, with three divisions 
of cavalry and five brigades of infantry. No 
fires were allowed in the Federal camp, and 
every precaution was taken to prevent the 
Confederate pickets on the south bank from 
discovering the presence of the large force. 

Stuart's brigades, under Fitz Lee, Robertson, 
W. H. F. Lee, and Jones, were encamped near 
the fords of the Rappahannock in readiness to 
cross the river the next morning and protect the 
flank of Lee's army which was already begin- 
ning its northward movement. Four batteries of 
horse artillery were encamped in the edge of the 
woods, in advance of Jones's brigade, near St, 



142 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

James Church. This church was about two 
hundred yards to the west of the direct road to 
Beverly^s Ford and was about two miles from 
the ford. 

Stuart himself camped on Fleetwood Hill, 
half a mile east of Brandy Station and four 
miles from Beverly's Ford. As an early start 
was ordered for the next morning, all of Stuart's 
camp equipage was packed in wagons in readi- 
ness for the move. Pickets were placed at all 
fords and the weary men slept, unaware of the 
lurking enemy. 

At dawn on June 9, General Pleasant on di- 
vided his command into two columns and sent 
one, under Brigadier-General Gregg, to cross the 
river at Kelly's Ford, four miles below the rail- 
road bridge, and to gain the road to Culpeper 
Courthouse. The other column, under General 
Buford, was ordered to cross at Beverly's Ford 
and proceed toward Brandy Station. This ad- 
vance was gallantly disputed by the Confederate 
pickets at the ford, but being greatly outnum- 
bered they were retiring slowly toward St. James 
Church when Major Flournoy with about one 
hundred men charged down the road upon the 
advancing regiments. The colonel who was 
leading the Federal charge was killed and the 
troops were driven back. 



THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 143 

But the skirmishes of the picket force and the 
charge of Major Flournoy had given General 
Jones time to draw up his men in hne of battle 
and to withdraw the artillery from its exposed 
position. General Jones then charged to the 
support of Major Flournoy. This charge was 
repelled by the Federals, and Jones retired to 



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MAP OF BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 

his line of battle at St. James Church where he 
was soon joined by the brigades of Hampton 
and W. H. F. Lee. 

From ten o'clock in the morning, the battle 
raged furiously. The Confederates advanced, 
but were met by Federal troops that charged 
gallantly across an open field up to the very 
muzzles of the cannon which were sending 
forth shell and canister into their midst. They 



144 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

advanced, however^ too far beyond their guns 
and, being attacked on both flanks, they re- 
treated with heavy loss. 

Stuart, who had hastened to the front to 
dispute the march of Buford, was suddenly 
threatened by more serious danger in the rear. 

The gallant Colonel Butler had been left 
with a regiment of South Carolina cavalry to 
guard Brandy Station, two miles in the rear of 
St. James Church and just haK a mile from 
Fleetwood Hill where Stuart's headquarters had 
been located for several v/eeks. While on duty 
at Brandy Station, Colonel Butler was informed 
by a scout that a body of Federal cavalry was 
moving toward Stevensburg. This was a part 
of the column that had been sent to Kelly's 
Ford early in the morning. General Gregg had 
driven in the Confederate pickets at the ford, 
and although General Robertson moved at once 
to the help of his pickets, he was too late to 
prevent General Gregg from sending a con- 
siderable force toward Stevensburg which was 
on the direct road to Culpeper Courthouse 
where General Lee was encamped. General 
Gregg himself, with the remainder of his force, 
marched on toward Brandy Station. 

Colonel Butler knew that it was most im- 
portant to keep the Federals from finding out 



^ ^ 




146 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

that Lee's army was at Culpeper, and as soon 
as he heard that they were marching along the 
Stevensburg road, he advanced without orders 
down that road. After a fierce fight, he stopped 
the advance of the Federals who turned back to 
join Gregg at Brandy Station. 

In the meantime, General Gregg had marched 
to the station where, Colonel Butler being 
absent, he met no opposing force. From this 
point, he immediately passed on to Fleetwood 
Hill which that morning had been vacated by 
General Stuart as headquarters. Stuart had 
left there Major H. B. McClellan and several 
couriers, with orders for all brigades and regi- 
ments to communicate with him at that place. 
These staff officers saw Gregg's large forces 
approaching and knew that they must hold the 
hill at any cost, as it was the key to Stuart's 
whole position. 

In Major McClellan's Life of Stuart he gives 
us a very vivid and accurate account of the com- 
bats which raged up and down and over the 
crest of Fleetwood Hill. He says that every 
vestige of the camp had been removed and 
there remained upon the hill only McClellan and 
the couriers. A six-pound howitzer, which for 
want of ammunition had been sent back from the 
fight going on at St. James Church, was halted 



THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 147 

at the foot of the hill and later proved their 
salvation. As soon as the young major saw the 
long Federal columns approaching, he dis- 
patched a courier to General Stuart with in- 
formation of this movement. For fear that 
some accident might befall the first courier, he 
sent a second, praying for help lest the entire 
force be enclosed between the divisions of 
Buford and Gregg. 

Finding some round shot and imperfect shells 
in the limber chest. Major McClellan ordered 
the howitzer to be brought up the hill and a 
slow fire to be opened upon the rapidly-advanc- 
ing Federals. The fire caused surprise and a 
halt. It seemed to indicate the presence of a 
considerable force. 

General Gregg, therefore, made preparations 
for a serious attack upon the hill, and opened 
fire with three rifled guns. But Major Mc- 
Clellan and the men with their one gun, held the 
hill until help came. Reenforcements promptly 
sent by General Stuart arrived just as the 
lieutenant in charge of the gun had fired his last 
cartridge and the Federal cavalry was advancing 
^'in magnificent order of columns of squadrons, 
with flags and guidons flying." 

There now followed a number of combats 
which for dash and bravery have rarely been 



148 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

equaled. First the Confederates, then the 
Federals, seemed to have possession of the hill. 
Stuart himself soon arrived, bringing Hampton 
and Jones from the other firing line to help hold 
this important position. Back and forth swept 
the blue and the gray, each fighting stubbornly 
and well. For a brief space of time, the New 
Jersey cavalry held the hill. Soon they were 
repulsed by a charge led by the Virginia cavalry. 
There was a fierce contest at the foot of the hill 
over three Federal guns. The Confederates 
charged and took the guns, but were driven 
back by overwhelming numbers and forced 
to cut their way out. About this time, Hampton 
came up with his four regiments formed in 
columns of squadrons with a battery of four 
guns. As they advanced at a gallop, they saw 
the crest of Fleetwood Hill covered with Federal 
cavalry. Passing the eastern side of the hill, 
they struck the column just beyond the rail- 
road and there followed a fierce hand-to-hand 
fight. When the smoke and dust of the conflict 
lifted, it was seen that Hampton had won. 
The Federals were retiring. At the same time, a 
charge had been made straight up the hill on the 
northeast side by Georgia and South Carolina 
cavalry. A saber charge was made and the hill 
was cleared of the opposing troops. As soon as 



THE BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION 149 

the Confederates gained the summit of the hill, 
three batteries were placed in position there. 

Fleetwood Hill was now in the possession of 
the Confederates, but the Federals still held 
Brandy Station. Stuart at once brought up 
a regiment which charged on both sides of the 
road to the station, drove out the Federals and 
pursued them for some distance. 

While the battle was raging at Fleetwood Hill, 
W. H. F. Lee with a small force held the Con- 
federate lines near St. James Church. There 
was a lull in the fighting while Buford was 
retiring some of his cavalry and bringing up 
fresh troops, and so Stuart was able to withdraw 
both Hampton and Jones, in order to repel the 
attack on Fleetwood Hill. 

As soon as the Federals were driven from 
Brandy Station, Stuart formed a new line of 
battle between the church and the station, where 
he received a heavy Federal onset. This battle 
was waged with varied success, but at last 
Gregg joined Buford and late in the evening 
the Federals retired across the river, — defeated 
in spite of their superior numbers. 

The losses in the battle of Brandy Station 
were heavy on both sides. The Federal loss was 
nearly 1,000 officers and men, while the Con- 
federate loss was over 500. The Federals were 



150 LIFE OF J. E. B. STtlAHT 

forced to leave in the hands of the Confederates 
three cannon, six flags, and nearly 500 prisoners. 
Pleasanton was really driven back by Stuart 
and the cavalry, but he claimed that as he had 
found out that there was a force of infantry at 
Culpeper Courthouse, which was the informa- 
tion he had been sent to obtain, he retired as 
soon as possible after he had been joined by 
Gregg. 

Gunner Neese tells us that several times during 
the day he saw General Stuart, when the battle 
raged fiercest, dash with his staff across the 
field and pass from point to point along the line, 
perfectly heedless of the surrounding danger. 
During the engagement, Neese fired his faithful 
gun one hundred and sixty times. Just before 
the battle closed in the evening he saw the fire 
flash from the cascabel of his gun and found 
that it was disabled forever — burnt out en- 
tirely at the breech. 

We have described this battle at length 
because it is considered one of the greatest 
cavalry combats of the nineteenth century. 



CHAPTER XI 

THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 

1863 

Stuart did not attempt to follow Pleasanton, 
because Lee's plan for the invasion of the North 
would not allow the useless sacrifice of men and 
horses. Indeed, all of the cavalry was needed 
to screen his army as it marched through the 
Blue Ridge gaps into the Valley, from which 
point it was to cross the Potomac into Mary- 
land. 

While Longstreet^s corps, which was the last 
to move from Culpeper, was advancing to the 
Valley, Stuart and his cavalry had a hard time 
trying to protect Ashby's and Snicker's gaps, 
through which Longstreet's forces would have to 
pass. The battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and 
Upperville, severe cavalry engagements in 
which Stuart's forces were slowly forced back to 
the foot of the Blue Ridge, were all fought to 
protect these gaps until Longstreet could pass 
through them on his northward march. 

On June 22, General Pleasanton, who had 
forced General Stuart back from Upperville to 

[ 151 ] 



152 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Ashby's Gap, withdrew, and Stuart moved 
forward to Rector's Cross Roads, where he 
could better watch the Federal movements. 
On that same day, General Ewell, who com- 
manded the advance division of General Lee's 
army, crossed the Potomac. By June 27, Lee's 
entire army had reached Chambersburg, Penn- 
sylvania. 

In the meantime, Stuart was in Virginia 
watching the Federals, in order to report to Lee 
the moment that Hooker began to move. He 
wrote General Lee that he thought he could 
move with some of his cavalry around General 
Hooker's rear into Maryland, thus throwing 
himself between the Federals and Washington, 
and so probably delay Hooker's northward 
movement. General Lee wanted General 
Stuart and his cavalry to join General Early 
and guard his flank as he marched toward York, 
Pennsylvania; he thought that Stuart could 
reach him in this way just as easily as by cross- 
ing at Shepherdstown where the rest of the army 
crossed. Therefore, he gave Stuart permission 
to cross at one of the lower fords, telling him to 
annoy the Federals in the rear and collect all 
possible supplies for the army. 

Major Von Borcke, the young Prussian officer, 
had been severely wounded and Major Mc- 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 153 

Clellan was now Stuart's adjutant general. He 
tells us that on the night before General Stuart 
started, a cold drizzling rain was faUing, but 
the general insisted on sleeping on the ground 
under a tree, because he said his men were 
exposed to the rain and he would not fare better 
than they. He could have had more comfort- 
able quarters on the porch of a deserted house 
near by, where McClellan, by the light of a 
tallow ^^dip," was receiving and writing dis- 
patches. When General Lee's letter, containing 
instructions for Stuart's march, came, Mc- 
Clellan carried it to the general, who quietly read 
it, and then turned to go to sleep on his hard, 
cold bed. 

It was by such an example as this, as well as 
by his bravery in battle, that Stuart won the 
undying love of his soldiers. I am going to 
quote for you a beautiful tribute paid him by 
Mosby, his chief scout, who guided Stuart past 
the Federal lines on the first part of this expedi- 
tion. 

Mosby says that when he went to the general 
for instructions before starting, '^he was in his 
usual gay humor. I never saw him at any time 
in any other. Always buoyant in spirits, he in- 
spired with his own high hopes all who came in 
contact with him. I felt the deepest affection 



154 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

for him. My chief ambition was to serve him. 
He was the rare combination of the Puritan and 
the knight-errant; — he felt intensely the joy of 
battle and he loved the praise of fair women and 
brave men. 

^^I served under him from the beginning of the 
war until he closed his life, like Sidney, leading 
a squadron on the field of honor. Yet I do not 
remember that he ever gave me an order. There 
was always so much sympathy between us and 
I felt so much affection for him that he had only 
to express a wish, that was an order for me." 

In making their plans, neither Lee nor Stuart 
had counted on an immediate northward move- 
ment of the Federal army. Yet when Stuart 
with three brigades passed eastward through a 
gap in Bull Run Mountain, he found Hooker's 
army already moving northward. He at once 
sent General Lee a dispatch conveying this 
valuable information, but the courier bearing it 
never reached headquarters, and so Lee did not 
know of this important movement until Hooker's 
whole army had crossed the Potomac and 
moved toward Frederick, Maryland. 

It was now impossible for Stuart to cross the 
river where he had intended, and it would take 
too much time to retrace his steps and cross at 
Shepherdstown, so he determined on the bold 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 155 

move of crossing at Rowser's Ford, or Seneca, 
only thirteen miles from Washington city. At 
this point, the water was very deep and swift, 
and the artillery had difficulty in crossing, but 
time was too precious for them to seek a better 
ford. 

The caissons and limber chests were emptied 
and dragged through the water, and the ammu- 
nition was carried over in the hands of troopers. 
By three o'clock on the morning of June 28, 
Stuart's command was on the Maryland side of 
the river, but the whole Federal army now lay 
between the cavalry and General Lee. Stuart 
would have to march around this army before he 
could obey Lee's order to join Early at York. 

But General Lee had also told Stuart to 
collect all the supplies that he could get for the 
use of the army. He now had an opportunity to 
carry out these instructions, for he met and 
captured a long line of Federal supply wagons. 

Fitz Lee's brigade tore up the track of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, burned the bridge, 
and cut the telegraph wires, thus destroying the 
line of communication between Washington city 
and General Meade who had taken Hooker's 
place as commander of the Federal forces. At 
one time, Stuart's troopers were so near Wash- 
ington that they could see the dome of the Cap- 



156 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

itol, and the whole North was in a panic lest the 
dreaded Stuart should attack the city. General 
Stuart, however, was hastening northward in 
order to join General Early at York. 

His long train of captured wagons seriously 
hindered the rapid movement of his horsemen, 
but he was unwilling to abandon these supplies 
that he knew were so greatly needed by Lee's 
army. 

If, however, he could have foreseen the events 
of the next few days he would have burned the 
wagons and hurried by forced marches to join 
General Lee who had to fight the first two 
days' battle at Gettysburg without the valuable 
aid of Stuart and his cavalry. But Stuart 
acted in the light of what he knew and did 
what seemed best at the time, holding on to his 
valuable prize in spite of the fact that it delayed 
his march to York nearly two days. 

On the morning of June 30, Stuart had a 
sharp encounter with cavalry, at Hanover, 
Pennsylvania, and at one time it seemed that he 
would have to give up his captured wagons. 
He already had them parked, so that they could 
easily be burned if he was compelled to leave 
them, but Hampton's and Fitz Lee's brigades, 
which had been guarding the wagons in the rear, 
came up and the Federals were dislodged. 



158 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Stuart remained at Hanover until night, in order 
to hold the Federals in check, while the wagon 
trains were sent toward York under the protec- 
tion of Fitz Lee's brigade. 

Major McClellan tells us that this night^s 
march was terrible to both the troopers and the 
drivers of the wagons. The men were hungry 
and exhausted, and so were the mules. Every 
time a wagon stopped, it caused a halt along the 
whole line, and as the drivers were constantly 
falhng asleep, these halts occurred very fre-; 
quently. It required the utmost vigilance on 
the part of every officer on Stuart's staff to keep 
the train in motion. 

When Fitz Lee reached the road leading from 
York to Gettysburg, he learned that Early had 
already marched westward. When Stuart arrived 
at this point, he sent out couriers to find Early 
and locate the other Confederate forces. He 
then pushed immediately on to Carlisle where 
he hoped to obtain provisions for his weary and 
hungry troops, but when he reached Carlisle, 
he found it already in possession of the Federals. 

Smith, the Federal general in command, was 
summoned to surrender, but he replied, ^^If you 
want the city, come and take it." 

Stuart was preparing to storm the city when 
he received orders from General Lee to move at 
once toward Gettysburg 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 159 

For eight days and nights, Stuart's men had 
been almost continually on the march and had 
been surrounded by superior cavalry forces, but 
"he reached Gettysburg on the evening of the 
second of July, in time to take part in the third 
day's battle. He delivered to the quartermaster 
one hundred and twenty-five captured wagons 
and teams. He would willingly have sacrificed 
this valuable prize could he have been on hand 
two days earlier to assist his beloved chief in 
the battle that had been unexpectedly forced 
at this point, but in which he held his ground 
during two days of stubborn fighting. 
I General Lee's plan for the third day's battle 
was to have General Longstreet's corps storm 
the Federal center in its strongly-fortified 
position upon Cemetery Ridge. Stuart's cavalry 
was to march unobserved to the Federal rear. 
Here it was to attack, thus protecting the Con- 
federate left flank and drawing attention away 
from the forces which were to storm Cemetery 
Ridge. 

About noon on the third of July, Stuart led 
two brigades along the York turnpike and took 
position on Cross Ridge in the rear of the 
Federal line of battle. Hampton and Fitz Lee 
were ordered to follow as soon as they were 
supplied with amunition. 



160 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



On the slope of Cross Ridge stood a stone 
dairy, and farther down in the valley was a barn 
belonging to a farmer named Rummel. Con- 
cealing his men in the woods on the top of the 
hill, Stuart pushed forward a gun and fired a 
number of shots, probably to notify General 
Lee that he had gained a good position on the 




From a war-time photograpli 
THE TOLL OF WAR 
Dead Confederate .'sharpshooters on the battlefield of Gettysburg 

left flank. He then sent word for Hampton and 
Fitz Lee to hasten, as he wished to attack the 
Federal rear. While waiting for them, he sent 
some dismounted cavalry to hold the Rummel 
barn and a fence to the right of it. 

Before Fitz Lee and Hampton came up, 
Stuart saw that he had stirred up a hornet's nest. 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 161 

The Federal cavalry had discovered his move- 
ments and were ready for him. A battery of six 
guns opened fire upon his gun and soon disabled 
it. Then a strong line of sharpshooters advanced 
and a fierce fight took place near the barn. On 
the left, the Confederate sharpshooters drove 
the Federals for some distance across the field. 
Just then a large force of Federal cavalry ap- 
peared and drove back the Confederate dis- 
mounted men almost to the Rummel barn. 
There the Federals were met and driven back 
by the Confederates, but the Federals were 
reenforced and returned. Hampton advanced to 
the charge, and the battle surged back and 
forth over the open field in a hand-to-hand fight 
with pistols and sabers, until nearly all of 
Hampton's and Fitz Lee's regiments were en- 
gaged. 

At last the Federals retired to the line held at 
the beginning of the fight and the Confederates 
held the Rummel barn. There followed an 
artillery duel which lasted until night. Then 
Stuart withdrew to the York turnpike, leaving 
a regiment of cavalry picketed around the bam 
which was full of wounded Confederates. 

Stuart encamped that night on the York road. 
Early the next morning, he withdrew in the rain 
and rejoined the main army on the heights west 



162 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

of Gettysburg. The Confederates under Pickett 
had stormed the Federal heights opposite and 
had taken the guns, but as Hood, who was to 
support the charge was detained by the Federal 
cavalry, they could not hold their position, and 
finally had to retreat with the loss of many lives. 
The Federals did not pursue the Confederates, 
but remained the whole of the next day upon 
their entrenched heights. 

Being now nearly out of ammunition and 
supplies for his men. General Lee ordered a 
retreat on the night of July 4. He had a diffi- 
cult task to perform. But happily his army 
had not been routed nor had the men lost 
confidence in him. As long as he was lead- 
ing, they were willing to go anywhere and to 
endure anything. 

He had now before him a long march, and he 
was encumbered with four thousand prisoners 
and a wagon train fifteen miles long. It would 
take great skill and courage to conduct his army 
safely b^ck into Virginia. 

In this extremity, he relied on his cavalry for 
aid. Both men and horses were by this time 
reduced in numbers and were worn out by hunger 
and fatigue. They, however, took promptly 
the position assigned by General Lee and 
guarded the army and its trains from the 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 163 

attacks of the Federal cavalry. General Stuart ^s 
command guarded both wings of the army, — 
Stuart himself being on one side and Fitz Lee 
on the other. They, of course, were pursued by 
the Federal cavalry, and before they reached 
the fords of the Potomac, both Stuart and Fitz 
Lee had been engaged in several skirmishes. 

The wagon train reached Williamsport on 
July 6, and found the river too much swollen 
to cross. The wagons were massed in a narrow 
space near the river and were guarded by a small 
force. Here they were attacked by General 
Buford. This engagement is called ^^the 
Teamsters^ Battle," because the teamsters as- 
sisted the troopers so well in holding the Federals 
in check. Together they succeeded in resisting 
the attack of Buford until the arrival of Stuart 
who had been engaged in driving the Federal 
cavalry from Hagerstown. A little later, Fitz 
Lee came thundering down the Greencastle road. 
Buford then retired without having taken or 
destroyed the trains so important to Lee. 

On July 7, when the infantry and artillery 
arrived at Hagerstown from which Stuart 
had driven the Federal cavalry the day before. 
General Lee was not able to cross the Poto- 
mac. He, therefore, selected a strong position 
and fortified it while waiting for the waters 



164 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

to fall. From July 8 to 12, Stuart protected 
the front of Lee's army, fighting a number of 
battles. Then, all the Federal forces having 
come up, Stuart retired to the main body of 
the army and General Lee prepared for battle. 
But Meade, who was very cautious, thought 
Lee's position too strong to attack. 

Major McClellan, General Stuart's adjutant 
general, says in his Life of Stuart that those 
days will be remembered by the cavalry 
leader's staff as days of great hardship. The 
country had been swept bare of provisions and 
nothing could be purchased. Scanty rations had 
been issued to the men, but none to the officers. 
For four or five days, they received all the food 
that they had from a young lady in Hagers- 
town, whose father, a Southerner, loved the 
Confederacy. After a day of incessant fighting, 
Stuart and his officers reached the house of this 
friend about nine o'clock at night. While food 
was being prepared, Stuart fell asleep on the 
sofa in the parlor. When supper was announced, 
he refused to rise. Knowing that he had eaten 
nothing for twenty-four hours. Major Mc- 
Clellan took him by the arm and compelled him 
to take his place at the table. He ate sparingly 
and without relish. 

Thinking that the supper did not suit him. 



THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN 165 

their kind hostess inquired: ^ ^General, perhaps 
you would Hke to have a hard-boiled egg?" 
^Tes/' he replied, ^I'll take four or five." 
This singular reply caused a good deal of 
astonishment, but nothing was said at the time. 
The eggs were brought in; Stuart broke one 
and ate it, and rose from the table. 

When they returned to the parlor, Major 
McClellan sat down at the piano and com- 
menced singing, 

"If you want to have a good time 
Jine the cavalry." 

The circumstances hardly made the song 
appropriate, but the chorus roused the general 
and he joined in it with a right good will. During 
all that time, he had been unconscious of his 
surroundings, and when told of his seeming 
rudeness to his hostess he hastened to make 
apologies. 

This little incident shows how greatly Stuart 
was exhausted by the strain and fatigue of 
sleepless days and nights during this unfortu- 
nate campaign. For more than two weeks, he 
had been almost constantly in the saddle, using 
both mind and body in the effort to save his 
command and to bring the Confederate army 
back to Virginia without serious disaster. 

On July 13, the waters had subsided so much 



166 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

that General Lee gave orders for the army to 
cross the river that night. By one o'clock 
the next afternoon, the southern army was 
again in Virginia, General Stuart's command 
bringing up the rear. 

The Federals, strange to say, offered little 
opposition and the crossing was a complete 
success. The Federal government and the 
northern people were much disappointed when 
they learned that General Lee had so skillfully 
led his army out of its perilous position. They 
had expected that General Meade would de- 
stroy it, hemmed in between the flooded Potomac 
and the Federal army so superior in numbers. 
Lee now moved back to Bunker Hill near 
Winchester. Stuart repelled an advance of the 
Federal cavalry and drove it steadily back to 
within a mile of Shepherdstown. Here a large 
number of the troopers were dismounted and 
advanced in line of battle. The Federals re- 
treated slowly until dark when they withdrew 
from the contest in the direction of Harper's 
Ferry, having lost heavily in killed and wounded. 



CHAPTER XII 

FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 

1863-'64 

General Meade now advanced into Virginia 
and attempted to follow General Lee and cut 
him off from Richmond. Lee being at once in- 
formed by Stuart of the movement, skillfully 
eluded his foe and by the first of August, had 
placed his army behind the Rappahannock river, 
between Meade and Richmond. 

The cavalry now had a short period of rest. 
The whole force was reorganized, and Hampton 
and Fitz Lee were promoted to the rank of 
major general. This much-needed rest was 
broken on September 13, by the advance of 
the Federals into Culpeper county. Stuart 
had been warned of their forward movement, 
and at once started his wagons and disabled 
horses toward Rapidan Station. General Lee 
supposing that General Meade was advancing 
in force, had already retired behind the Rapidan 
river and placed his army in a very strong 
position. 

[ 167] 



168 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Early on the morning of Sept. 13, the Federal 
cavalry advanced in large numbers to the fords 
of the Rappahannock. As Lee did not intend 
to hold Culpeper county, Stuart retired toward 
Rapidan Station, keeping up a running fight as 
he withdrew. 

A few days later, Stuart came in touch with 
Buford's cavalry near Jack's Shop in Madi- 
son county, and attacked them in several 
spirited charges. He was unable, however, 
to drive back these forces. Unwilling to re- 
treat, he advanced and was engaged in a 
furious combat when he was informed that 
Kilpatrick's command was in his rear. As he 
withdrew to meet this unexpected foe, Buford 
pressed forward and it seemed for a time that 
Stuart had at last been caught in a place from 
which he could not escape. 

Kilpatrick had already thrown a large force of 
dismounted men between Stuart and the river, 
and he was thus enclosed between two large 
forces of finely-mounted men. Buford pressed 
forward until the battle was brought into a field 
in the center of which a small hill afforded a good 
position for Stuart's artillery. He now divided 
his regiments and guns — some to fight Buford, 
some to fight Kilpatrick. At last, Kilpatrick's 
main force was driven back and one of Stuart's 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 169 

regiments dashed up to the fence behind which 
Kilpatrick's dismounted men were firing, threw it 
down, and made way for Stuart to retire. With- 
drawing rapidly, Stuart then crossed the ford 
at Liberty Mills where he was very soon reen- 
forced. 

On October 9, General Lee commenced the 
movement around the right of General Meade's 
army which is called the ^^Bristoe Campaign." 
In this campaign, the cavalry was sorely tried. 
Fitz Lee — who, as you have been told, had 
been promoted to the rank of major gen- 
eral — was left at Raccoon Ford, supported by 
two brigades of infantry, to hold Lee's line and 
to make Meade believe that Lee's whole army 
was still encamped at that place. Stuart with 
Hampton's division moved to the right of Lee's 
army as it again marched northward; it was his 
duty to prevent the Federals from finding out 
Lee's movements and to protect the army from 
attacks. 

Now followed a series of sharp engagements 
between the cavalry of the two armies. There 
was a skirmish near James City after which the 
Federals retired toward Culpeper Courthouse. 
The next morning, Stuart followed them. Three 
miles from the Courthouse, he met and drove 
in the Federal pickets. But he now found out 



170 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

that Meade was retreating from the Rappahan- 
nock and that Fitz Lee, who had fought a battle 
at Raccoon Ford, was advancing towards 
Brandy Station, — fighting Buford as he marched. 

Stuart knew that Kilpatrick was at Culpeper 
Courthouse awaiting his attack, but on re- 
ceiving this news he turned at once northward 
toward Brandy Station, hoping to join Fitz Lee 
and get possession of Fleetwood Hill from which 
he had driven the Federal cavalry in June. If 
he could carry out this plan, he would cut off 
Kilpatrick from Buford. Kilpatrick, who had 
massed his force of about four thousand men on 
the open space east of the Courthouse at 
Culpeper waiting the attack of Stuart, soon 
found out that the latter had eluded him and 
was hurrying toward Brandy Station. He, 
therefore, began a race for the same position. 

Unfortunately, Stuart was delayed by a 
skirmish with Federal forces and when he came 
in sight of Brandy Station, he saw that Kilpatrick 
had beaten him in the race. Buford, who was 
being pursued by Fitz Lee, had already taken 
possession of Fleetwood Hill and placed his artil- 
lery upon its crest. Stuart had moved so rapidly 
that he had left his artillery far behind, but 
Fitz Lee's guns were booming as he came into 
position. 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 171 

Fitz Lee joined Stuart and they at once at- 
tacked Kilpatrick's and Buford's forces, now 
under the command of Major-General Pleasan- 
ton. The Federals fought bravely, but they 
were steadily pushed toward their position on 
Fleetwood Hill. It was now late in the after- 
noon, and Stuart, declining to attack them in 
their strong position, sent Fitz Lee to the left 
as if to cut off the Federals from the river. As 
soon as Pleasanton perceived this flanking 
movement, he withdrew from Fleetwood Hill 
and, protected by his artillery, crossed the river. 
Stuart's weary troopers camped that night once 
more around Brandy Station, well pleased at 
having gained a decided victory over such large 
forces. 

Two days later, Stuart reached Warrenton 
where the whole army was encamped and he 
immediately received orders to proceed toward 
Catlett's Station with two thousand men and 
seven guns, for the purpose of gaining accurate 
information about the position of Meade's army. 

General Meade had started his forces back 
toward Culpeper Courthouse to engage General 
Lee in battle, but he found out that Lee was 
marching around his right, so as to get between 
him and Washington city. On receiving this 
information, Meade at once recalled his forces. 



172 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

These movements and countermovements came 
near resulting disastrously to Stuart who was 
caught between the advancing and retreating 
divisions of the Federals. 

When he reached Catlett's Station, he found 
that a column of Federal infantry was moving 
toward that place. He at once fell back on the 
road to Warrenton and found another Federal 
corps in his rear. His situation was now one of 
great peril. It seemed that his force would either 
be captured or cut to pieces. 

Fortunately, when Stuart perceived his 
danger he was emerging from a piece of woods 
and night was closing in. He at once retired his 
command to the depths of the woods and called 
a council of his officers. They were so near the 
enemy that the neighing of a horse or the clash 
of a saber could be heard, and to make retreat 
impossible, they were hemmed in on one side 
by a swollen stream and on the other side by a 
forest. At first, it was proposed to leave the 
seven guns and cut their way out. Stuart, 
however, would not agree to abandon his artil- 
lery. At last, officers went through the com- 
mand and ordered each man to stand by his 
horse's head, and to make no sound himself nor 
let his horse make any. 

As soon as it was dark, Stuart ordered four 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 173 

trusted men to make their way to General Lee at 
Culpeper Courthouse. They were to inform 
him of the dangerous position of the cavalry and 
ask him to send aid as soon as possible. Then 
followed long hours of anxious waiting. During 
the night, a Federal corps marched past the 
front of Stuart's position, but fortunately the 
noise of the moving column prevented the 
Federals from detecting the presence of the 
Confederates within the woods. 

At the first peep of day, the Confederates dis- 
covered that a large force of Federal infantry 
had halted near, had stacked arms, and were 
getting breakfast. They were so near the Con- 
federates that several of their officers who 
strayed into the woods were captured. In the 
dim light of morning, each soldier in gray 
tightened the girth of his hungry, weary steed 
and mounted silently, with weapons ready for 
the charge. The seven guns were parked near 
the west of the hill, just opposite the feasting 
Federals. Then the men waited, — waited either 
to be discovered by the Federals when the 
bright sunlight should flash upon their gray 
coats or to hear Lee's guns as a signal for them 
to attack. 

At last! There was firing from toward War- 
renton. Aid was approaching and the time had 



174 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

come to cut their way out. In an instant, the 
seven guns were pouring shot and shell upon the 
surprised Federals. The horsemen then charged 
upon the infantry regiments which had hastily 
formed in line of battle and were advancing upon 
the guns. A fierce combat now ensued in which 
the Federals were driven back. The artillery 
and wagons, followed closely by the horsemen, 
passed behind the rear of the Federals and thus 
the whole command escaped from its perilous 
position. 

General Meade now fell back to Centerville 
and General Lee, having failed to cut off General 
Meade from Washington, retired again to the 
line of the Rappahannock. Stuart continued to 
follow the Federal cavalry, having skirmishes at 
Bull Run, Groveton, and Frying Pan Church. 

A few days later, the Confederate cavalry 
defeated a large force of infantry near Buck- 
land, in a battle that is known as the ^^Buckland 
Races." After a sharp skirmish, Stuart fell 
back slowly toward Warrenton in order to draw 
the Federals after him; for Fitz Lee was moving 
forward from Warrenton to attack them in the 
rear. Stuart, as soon as he heard the sound of 
Fitz Lee's guns, turned suddenly upon the 
Federals with so furious a charge that their lines 
were broken and put to flight. Stuart chased, 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 175 

them for five miles and captured two hundred 
and fifty prisoners and eight wagons and ambu- 
lances. Thus he may be said to have fairly won 
the race back to Buckland. 

Soon after this, both armies went into winter 
quarters. The Federal soldiers had comforts 
and even luxuries, while the Confederates were 
poorly clothed and fed. Their sufferings during 
this bitter cold winter could not have been en- 
dured but for the food and clothing sent from 
their homes. Officers and men fared alike; the 
resources of the Confederacy were at a low ebb. 

Mrs. Stuart was boarding at Orange Court- 
house, and, as General Stuart's headquarters 
were near by, he was able to spend some time 
with his family again. And a very happy family 
it was now, for on the ninth of the previous 
October, the very day that began Stuart's heavy 
work in the Bristoe Campaign, a daughter had 
come to comfort him and Mrs. Stuart for the 
loss of their fit tie Flora. The devoted father 
named this little baby Virginia Pelham, in honor 
of his beloved state and in memory of the gallant 
young leader of the Stuart Horse Artillery whom 
he had loved so well. The members of General 
Stuart's staff were all devoted to this new 
member of the family, and General Lee, whose 
headquarters were not far distant, came more 



176 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

than once to visit Mrs. Stuart and ^^Miss 
Virginia/' as he called the little lady. The 
admiration paid his little daughter gave Stuart 
great delight. 

Late in February, 1864, the Federal cavalry 
made an attempt to take Richmond. This 
movement was known as ^^Dahlgren's Raid" 
and the large Federal forces were fitted out with 
great care. But in spite of their superior num- 
bers, they were driven back by Stuart's cavalry. 

On March 17, General U. S. Grant was placed 
in command of all the Federal armies. As it 
was evident that the great struggle of the year 
would take place in Virginia, he took charge of 
General Meade's army and prepared it for the 
coming campaign. He had an army of 125,000 
men, fully equipped, and with all that money 
could buy. 

At midnight on May 3, the Federal army 
began to advance. General Lee permitted 
it to cross the Rapidan and march into the 
Wilderness where the battle of Chancellorsville 
had been fought the year before. In this jungle, 
it would be difficult for the Federals to use their 
artillery and they would be compelled to fight 
at a disadvantage: General Grant expected 
General Lee to retreat to a line nearer Rich- 
mond, and he was surprised when his troops 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 177 

plunged into the dense woods and thickets of the 
Wilderness to find General Lee ready to fight 
on ground of his own choosing. 

As soon as the news was received at the cavalry 
headquarters that the Federals had crossed the 
fords of the Rapidan, Stuart set out for his 
picket line. He conducted in person the 
advances of the infantry until the lines of the 
enemy were reached, and on May 6 and 7 the 
great Battle of the Wilderness raged furiously. 

The cavalry did heavy work on the Con- 
federate right. Gunner Neese, in his diary, 
tells an interesting anecdote of Stuart on the 
morning of the second day's battle. 

He says: ^^Our orders to hasten to the front 
this morning at daylight were pressing and 
urgent, and we had no time to prepare or eat 
breakfast, which greatly rufHed some of our 
drivers. When we drew near to the enemy's 
line we awaited orders, and one of our drivers 
was still going through baby acts about some- 
thing to eat and having no breakfast. Just 
then General Stuart and staff came along and 
halted a moment right in the road where we 
were and heard the grumbling and childish 
murmuring of our hungry man, and the general 
rode up to him and gave him two biscuits out 
of his own haversack." 



178 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

On the night of May 7, Grant began to move 
his army by the left flank to get between 
Lee and Richmond, but the movement was dis- 
covered at once and Fitz Lee's cavalry was sent 
forward to delay the Federals until Longstreet's 
infantry could come up. Fitz Lee's men were 
at times dismounted, and they fought so stub- 
bornly that Grant's forces were held in check 
until the infantry by a rapid night march reached 
the entrenchments which had been hastily 
thrown up near Spotsylvania Courthouse. 

I am going to tell you about the arrival of the 
infantry and the beginning of the next morning's 
battle in the words of a private of the First Vir- 
ginia cavalry. 

He says: ^^We had been fighting and re- 
treating all night, and at last, when near 
Spotsylvania Courthouse had thrown up slight 
entrenchments. Protected by Breathed's guns, 
we were awaiting another attack. Suddenly 
we heard the steady march of infantry coming 
in our rear. The old fellows came swinging 
along in the moonlight, each one with his camp- 
kettle on his back and his long musket with its 
gleaming bayonet resting easily on his shoulder. 
Each man settled down by a dismounted trooper, 
glad to rest a little while, but full of quips and 
jokes. Xook here sonny,' said one to me. 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 179 

picking up my carbine, Vhat's this here thing 
for? Ef I was you I'd be feared of it; it might 
hurt somebody!' But even talking was not 
permitted. Officers passed along, enjoining 
silence and ordering us not to fire until we could 
see the whites of the Yankees' eyes. 

^ 'About daylight we heard loud cheering. 
Major Breathed had brought off one of his guns 
in the face of thousands of the enemy, and they 
were cheering! On came a blue line of battle 
eight deep calling out, 'Come out, you dis- 
mounted cavalry! We know you are there.' 

''Silence reigned behind the earthworks, but 
every gun was ready. When the Federals were 
well over the crest of the hill, the order rang 
along the line — 'Steady, aim, fire!' Bang! went 
the carbines and muskets, and with piercing yells 
the Confederates leaped out of the works and 
rushed with gleaming bayonets upon the already 
retreating foe. The veterans had delivered so 
fierce and so well-directed a fire that the attack 
was not renewed at that position." 

A short while afterward, Stuart arrived with 
reenforcements. Major McClellan was the only 
member of General Stuart's staff present during 
the brisk skirmishes of the morning. He says 
that Stuart exposed himself recklessly to the 
fire of the Federals, in spite of the earnest request 



180 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

of the infantry officers that he would retire to a 
safer position. 

He sent Major McClellan on such seemingly 
unnecessary messages that after a while that 
officer thought that General Stuart was trying 
to shield him from danger, so he said, ^^ General, 
my horse is weary. You are exposing yourself 
and you are alone. Please let me remain with 
you." 

But Stuart merely smiled kindly and sent him 
with another message. 

When Grant reached Spotsylvania Court- 
house, he decided to send a corps of cavalry 
forward on a raid toward Richmond. This 
force was to cut Lee's communication, take 
Richmond, and be in position to attack the rear 
of Lee's army after Grant crushed him at 
Spotsylvania. General Sheridan commanded 
these troops that started for Richmond, along 
the Telegraph Road. 

General Fitz Lee who saw them, says: ^Ten 
thousand horsemen riding in a single road in 
column of fours made a column thirteen miles 
in length; and with flashing sabers and flutter- 
ing guidons were an imposing array." 

To contend with this force, Stuart had only 
three small brigades, yet on him depended the 
safety of Richmond and the protection of the 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 181 

rear of Lee's army. At Jarrold's Mill, Wick- 
ham's brigade had a sharp skirmish with Sheri- 
dan's rear guard and captured a number of 
prisoners. Yet on and on marched Sheridan, 
leaving the Telegraph Road, and going toward 
Beaver Dam Station. At Mitchell's Shop, 
Sheridan's rear guard having been reenforced, 
made another stand. Wickham attacked again, 
but would have been forced back by the greatly- 
superior numbers of the Federals had not Stuart 
and Fitz Lee come up with reenforcements and 
the Federals passed on. 

At Beaver Dam Station, Stuart left his 
command a short while to see if his wife and 
children, who were near by at the home of Mr. 
Edmund Fontaine, had escaped annoyance 
from the Federals. Having found them safe 
and well, he pressed on toward Hanover Junc- 
tion to place his forces between Sheridan and 
Richmond. 

Hanover Junction was reached after dark and 
Stuart proposed an all-night march. Fitz Lee's 
men, however, were worn out with fighting and 
marching and, at the request of their com- 
mander, Stuart at last consented that the 
troopers should rest until one o'clock. He 
directed that his trusted adjutant, Major 
McClellan, should remain awake to arouse the 



182 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

sleeping men, and to see them mounted and on 
the march at the time mentioned. 

Major McClellan in his Life of Stuart, says: 
'When the troops had moved out, I returned to 
Stuart and awoke him and his staff. While 
they were preparing to move, I lay down to 
catch, if possible, a few moments' rest. The 
party rode off as I lay in a half-conscious con- 
dition, and I heard some one say, 'General, 
here's McClellan fast asleep. Must I wake 
him?' 'No' he rephed, 'he has been watching 
while we were asleep. Leave a courier with 
him and tell him to come on when his nap is 
out/ " 

After taking a short rest. Major McClellan 
rejoined General Stuart just as he passed the 
road leading to Ashland. A squadron of Con- 
federate cavalry had come upon a force of 
Federal cavalry in that town, and had dis- 
persed it with great loss to the latter. 

Stuart reached Yellow Tavern, about eight 
miles from Richmond, about ten o'clock on the 
morning of May 11. He had beaten Sheri- 
dan in the race to Richmond and placed him- 
self between that city and Sheridan's forces. 
He at once posted his small force to meet the 
Federal advance. Wickham was placed on the 
right of the Telegraph Road and Lomax on the 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 183 

left. Two guns were placed in the road and one 
farther to the left. The whole force was dis- 
mounted, except a portion of the cavalry which 
was held in reserve. 

General Stuart then sent Major McClellan 
into Richmond to find out the condition of af- 
fairs in the city. General Bragg, in charge of the 
defense, replied that he had enough men to hold 
the trenches and that he was hourly expecting 
reenf orcements from Petersburg — that he wished 
General Stuart to remain on the Federal flank 
and to retard its progress as much as possible. 

General Stuart's last official dispatch written 
on the morning of May 11, the day that he was 
wounded, showed his wonderful determination 
and unfailing cheerfulness in the face of danger 
and difficulty, and was also a tribute to the men 
who fought under him. 

He wrote: ^'May 11th, 1864, 6:30 A. M. 
Fighting against immense odds of Sheridan — 
my men and horses are tired, hungry, and 
jaded, hut all right. ^^ 

About four o'clock that same day, Sheridan 
attacked the whole line, throwing a brigade of 
cavalry upon the left. Stuart galloped to this 
point, and found that the Federals had captured 
his two guns and had driven back almost the 
entire left. He at once ordered a reserve 



184 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

squadron to charge the advancing Federals. 
Just as the latter were being driven back in a 
hand-to-hand combat, General Stuart rode up 
to where Captain Dorsey and about eighty dis- 
mounted men who had collected on the Tele- 
graph Road, were firing at the retreating 
Federals. As the struggling mass fell back, one 
of the Federals who had been unhorsed in the 
fight, turned and fired his pistol directly at 
General Stuart. The fatal shot entered his 
body just above the sword-belt. 

Captain Dorsey saw that the general was 
wounded and hurried to his assistance. He 
tried to lead the general's horse to a safer place, 
but it became very unruly. General Stuart 
insisted on being lifted off and allowed to rest 
against a tree. Then he ordered the captain to 
go back to his men, but Captain Dorsey refused 
to do so until his general had been taken to the 
rear. There were now only a few of Stuart's 
men between him and the Federals and for a 
few moments there was great danger of his being 
captured. 

But soon another horse was brought, and the 
general was taken to a safer place by Captain 
Dorsey and put in charge of Private Wheatley. 
Wheatley speedily procured an ambulance, and 
took the general to the rear. Here Dr, Fontaine 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 185 

and two of the general's aides, Venable and 
Hullihen, took charge of their wounded chief 
and started at once to Richmond. 

As the ambulance passed through the disorder- 
ed Confederate ranks the general called to his 
men, '^Go back! go back and do your duty as I 
have done, and our country will be safe. Go 
back! go back! I had rather die than be 
whipped." 

These were his last words upon the battle- 
field, aiid they carried to his men a message, 
full of the spirit of their beloved chief. They 
did 'go back,' and fought so well that Sheridan 
was finally 'driven from Richmond. 

The ambulance had to take a rough and round- 
about way, in order to avoid the Federals, and it 
did not reach Richmond until after dark. The 
general was taken to the home of his brother-in- 
law. Dr. Charles Brewer. He had suffered 
greatly on the trip, but had borne the pain with 
fortitude and cheerfulness. 

The next morning. Major McClellan, who 
according to Stuart's orders had remained on 
the battlefield, rode into the city to deliver to 
General Bragg a message from General Fitz Lee 
now in command of the cavalry. As soon as he 
had delivered his message, he went at once to 
the bedside of his wounded general. Infiamma- 



186 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



tion had set in, and the doctors said there was 
no hope of Stuart's recovery. I shall let Mc- 
Clellan tell you in his own words about the 
general's last hours. 

He says: ^^After delivering General Fitz Lee's 
message to General Bragg, I repaired to the 
bedside of my dying chief. He was calm and 




_ _^ cs5<^?sr r?T> ■^jo 



THE HOUSE IN WHICH STUART DIED 

This house has been torn down. The building erected on its site bears a tablet 
in memory of Stuart. 

composed, in the full possession of his mind. 
Our conversation was, however, interrupted by 
paroxysms of suffering. He directed me to make 
the proper disposal of his official papers, and 
to send his personal effects to his wife. 

^^He then said: ^I wish you to take one of my 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 1C7 

horses and Venable the other. Which h the 
heavier rider?' 

''I rephed that I thought Venable was. 

^' ^Then/ he said, 'let Venable have the gray- 
horse and you take the bay.' 

''Soon he spoke again: 'You will find in my 
hat a small Confederate flag, which a lady of 
Columbia, South Carolina, sent me, with the 
request that I would wear it upon my horse in a 
battle and then return it to her. Send it to her.' " 

Later, Major McClellan found the flag inside 
the lining of the general's hat. Among his 
papers was the letter conveying the lady's 
request. 

"Again he said: 'My spurs which I have 
always worn in battle, I promised to give to 
]\lrs. Lilly Lee, of Shepherdstown, Virginia. 
My sword I leave to my son.' 

"While I sat by his bed, the sound of cannon 
outside the city was heard. He turned to me 
eagerly and inquired what it meant. I ex- 
plained that Gracey's brigade and other troops 
had moved out against the rear of the enemy 
on the Brooke turnpike and that Fitz Lee 
would endeavor to oppose their advance at 
Meadow Bridge. 

"He turned his eyes upward, and exclaimed 
earnestly, 'God grant that they may be success- 



188 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

iuV Then turning his head aside, he said with 
a sigh: ^But I must be prepared for another 
world/ 

^The thought of duty was ever uppermost in 
his mind, and after Hstening to the distant 
cannonading for a few moments, he said, 
'Major, Fitz Lee may need you.' I understood 
his meaning and pressed his hand in a last 
farewell. As I left his chamber. President 
Davis entered. 

'Taking the general's hand he asked: 'General, 
how do you feel?' 

''He replied: 'Easy, but willing to die if God 
and my country think I have fulfilled my 
destiny, and done my duty.'" 

"The Rev. Dr. Peterkin visited him, and 
prayed with him. He requested Dr. Peterkin 
to sing 'Rock of Ages,' and joined in the singing 
of the hymn. 

"During the afternoon, he asked Dr. Brewer 
whether it were not possible for him to sur- 
vive the night. The doctor frankly told him 
that death was close at hand. 

"He then said: 'I am resigned if it be God's 
will; but I would like to see my wife. But God's 
will be done.' 

"Again he said to Dr. Brewer: 'I am going 
fast now; I am resigned. God's will be done.' " 



FINAL CAMPAIGNS AND DEATH 189 

Major Von Borcke, General Stuart's former 
aide who had not yet recovered from his severe 
wound, was also in Richmond. After Mc- 
Clellan went away, Von Borcke remained at his 
chieftain's side. He tells us that he sat on the 
bed, holding the general's hand and handing 
him crushed ice which he ate in great abun- 
dance and which was applied to cool his burning 
wound. Everyone was hoping that Mrs. 
Stuart would arrive in time to be with him before 
he passed from earth. 

Finally the general drew Von Borcke to him, 
and after bidding him farewell said, ^Xook after 
my family after I am gone and be the same 
true friend to my wife and children that you 
have been to me." These were his last con- 
nected words. 

At eight o'clock the end came, and it was 
three hours later before Mrs. Stuart arrived. 
The destruction of bridges and a fearful storm 
had caused delay in the trip from Beaver Dam. 
Owing to the telegraph lines being broken, the 
tidings that General Stuart was wounded did 
not reach his wife until noon on Ma}^ 12. 

At the time of his death, May 12, Stuart 
was just thirty-one years old. Yet through his 
high ideals, his devotion to duty, and his mili- 
tary genius, he had risen to a position of great 



190 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

trust and honor in the service of his country 
for which he laid down his hfe. Such a death, 
crowning such a hfe, is glorious and inspiring. 
One feels that Horatius, the noble Roman, in- 
deed spoke truly when he said: 

''And how can man die better, 
Than by facing fearful odds, 
For the ashes of his fathers 
And the temples of his gods?" 



CHAPTER XIII 
SOME TRIBUTES TO STUART 

While General Stuart's life was ebbing away, 
General Sheridan retired from the attack on 
Richmond. The delay at Ashland and the 
all-day fight at Yellow Tavern in which two 
brigades of Stuart's cavalry had detained the 
ten thousand men of Sheridan's command, had 
given the authorities at Richmond time to 
collect forces for the defense of the city. 

General Fitz Lee who now commanded the 
cavalry, harassed the retreat of Sheridan for a 
while, but his men and horses were too worn-out 
to attempt to cut off so large a force. Sheridan, 
therefore, marched through the swamps of the 
Chickahominy river to the Pamunkey, and 
after an absence of more than two weeks, 
rejoined Grant's army which was still vainly 
attempting to get between Lee and Richmond. 

General Fitz Lee in his Life of General Robert 
E. Lee J says: ^^Sheridan's raid would have been 
the usual record of nothing accomplished and a 
broken-down command except that at Yellow 
Tavern the Confederate cavalry chieftain was 

[ 191 1 



192 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

mortally wounded and died the next day in 
Richmond. This sad occurrence was of more 
value to the Federal cause than anything that 
could have happened, and his loss to Lee was 
irreparable. He was the army's eyes and ears — 
vigilant always, bold to a fault, of great vigor 
and ceaseless activity. He had a heart ever 
loyal to his superior, and duty, was to him the 
^sublimest word in the language.' " 

In a letter to his wife a few days after General 
Stuart's death. General Robert E. Lee said: 
^^As I write, I expect to hear the sound of guns 
every moment. I grieve for the loss of the 
gallant officers and men, and miss their aid and 
sympathy. A more zealous, ardent, brave, and 
devoted soldier than Stuart the Confederacy 
cannot have." 

General Lee's order to the army announcing 
the death of Stuart was as follows: ^^ Among 
the gallant soldiers who have fallen in the war. 
General Stuart was second to none in valor, in 
zeal, and in unflinching devotion to his country. 
His achievements form a conspicuous part of the 
history of this army, with which his name and 
services will be forever associated. To military 
capacity of a high order, he added the brighter 
graces of a pure life guided and sustained by the 
Christian's faith and hope. The mysterious 



SOME TRIBUTES TO STUART 193 

hand of an all-wise God has removed him from 
the scene of his usefulness and fame. His grate- 
ful countrymen will mourn his loss and cherish 
his memory. To his comrades in arms he has 
left the proud recollection of his deeds and the 
inspiring influence of his example." 

General Wade Hampton's order to his cavalry 
corps was also an eloquent tribute to the great 
cavalry leader. It was as follows: 

''In the midst of rejoicing over the success of 
our arms, the sad tidings come to us from 
Richmond of the death of our distinguished 
Chief of Cavalry. Death has at last accepted 
the offering of a life, which before the admiring 
eyes of the Army, has been so often, so freely 
and so nobly offered, on almost every battle- 
field of Virginia. In the death of Major-General 
J. E. B. Stuart the Army of Northern Virginia 
has lost one of its most brilhant, enthusiastic 
and zealous military leaders, the Southern cause 
one of its earliest, most untiring and devoted 
supporters, and the Cavalry arm of the service 
a chieftain who first gave it prominence and 
value, and whose dazzling achievements have 
attracted the wonder and applause of distant 
nations. His spirit shone as bright and brave 
in the still chamber of death, as amid the 
storm of the battlefield, and he passed out of 



194 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

life the same buoyant hero he had hved. Blessed 
through a short but glorious career with many 
instances of almost miraculous good fortune, it 
was his great privilege to die with the con- 
sciousness of having performed his whole duty 
to his country. To his children he leaves the 
rich legacy of a name which has become identi- 
fied with the brightest acts of our military 
history and, when the panorama of our battles 
shall be unfolded to posterity, in almost every 
picture will be seen the form of our gallant 
leader. His name will be associated with 
almost every scene of danger and of glory, in 
which the Cavalry of the Virginia Army has 
borne a part, and they will recount the exploits 
of Stuart with the pride which men feel in their 
own honorable records. 

^The Major General commanding hopes that 
this division will show by their own noble con- 
duct their high appreciation of the character of 
their lost commander, and when the danger 
thickens around them and the cause of their 
country calls for heroic efforts they will remem- 
ber the example of Stuart. No leader ever set a 
more glorious example to his soldiers on the 
battlefield than he did, and it becomes the men 
he has so often led, while they mourn his fall, to 
emulate his courage, to imitate his heroic devo- 
tion to duty and to avenge his death.'' 



SOME TRIBUTES TO STUART 195 

While General Lee and his army continued to 
wrestle with the hosts of Grant, the city of 
Richmond was in deep gloom and mourning. 
Once more the tide of battle had come near her 
gates; and this time the beloved and gallant 
Stuart had fallen. He had been the pride of her 
heart, her brave and chivalrous defender. But 
Stuart was to sleep his last long sleep upon her 
bosom, in beautiful Hollywood around whose 
promontories sweep the waters of the James as 
they rush onward to the Chesapeake and where 
the tall pine trees whisper of the life eternal. 
The city aroused herself from her grief to do 
homage to the noble dead. 

The City Council of Richmond passed resolu- 
tions of respect and sympathy for the family 
of General Stuart and asked that the body of 
him who ^ ^yielded up his heroic spirit in the 
immediate defense of their city, and the succes- 
ful effort to purchase their safety by the sacri- 
fice of his own life," might ^'be permitted to 
rest under the eye and guardianship of the 
people of Richmond and that they might be al- 
lowed to commemorate by a suitable monument 
their gratitude and his services." 

At five o'clock on the afternoon of May 13, the 
funeral of General Stuart took place from old 
St. James Church in Richmond. The coffin con- 



196 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



taining the remains of the brave soldier was 
carried up the aisle and, covered with wreaths 
and flowers, was placed before 
the altar. 

The funeral service was con- 
ducted by Reverend Dr. Peter- 
kin who had been with General 
Stuart during his last hours. 
The church was filled with of- 
ficials of the Confederate govern- 
ment and citizens of Richmond. 
President Davis sat near the 
front, with a look of great sad- 
ness upon his careworn face. 
His cabinet officers were around 
him and on either side of the 
church were the senators and 
representatives of the Confeder- 
ate Congress. But the cavalry 
officers and soldiers who loved 
and followed Stuart were all 
absent. They were on the firing 
line, either in the Wilderness or 
on the Chickahominy, — fighting 
in defense of Richmond which 
he had died to save. 

No military escort could be 
spared from the front to accompany the funeral 




MONUMENT 

Marking Stuart's grave in 

Hollywood Cemetery, 

Richmond, Va. 



SOME TRIBUTES TO STUART 197 

procession to Hollywood or to fire the usual 
parting salute to the dead commander. But 
as the body was lowered into the grave, the 
earth trembled with the roar of artillery from 
the battlefield where his old troops were obey- 
ing his last command and driving back the 
Federals. No better salute could have been 
given the gallant leader. 

Leaving the body of their brave defender 
beneath the pines of Hollywood, the officials and 
citizens of Richmond returned to their homes 
to meet other sorrows. Before a year passed, the 
devoted city was overtaken by the fate which 
Stuart had so ably aided Lee in averting. 
Richmond fell into the hands of the Federals, 
General Lee surrendered, and the southern Con- 
federacy was no more. 

When the city arose from her ashes and 
again put on the garb of peace, one of her first 
works was to erect memorials in honor of 
the men who had fought so nobly in her de- 
fense. 

In 1888, a monument was erected by some of 
Stuart's comrades to mark the place at Yellow 
Tavern where he received his mortal wound. 
Governor Fitzhugh Lee was the orator of the 
occasion. He had been one of Stuart's most 
trusted brigadier generals, and had known him 



198 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



since they were cadets together at West Point. 

In beautiful and touching language, he re- 
viewed the chief 
events of Stuart's 
life, his brilliant 
campaigns, and his 
last hours. 

The shaft at Yel- 
low Tavern is 
twenty-two feet 
high and stands 
on a knoll about 
thirty feet from 
the spot where 
Stuart was wound- 
ed. Upon it are 
the following in- 
scriptions : 















S^f^-f 


1 


^ 




ii 


H 



MONUMENT AT YELLOW TAVERN 
Marking the place where Stuart was wounded 



Face: Upon this field, Major-Genl. J. E. B. Stuart, 
Commander Confederate Cavalry A. N. Va., 
received his mortal wound, May 11, 1864. 

Right: He was fearless and faithful, pure and power- 
ful, tender and true. 

Left: This stone is erected by some of his comrades 
to commemorate his valor. 

Rear: He saved Richmond, but he gave his life. 
Bom Feb. 6, 1833, died May 12, 1864. 



SOME TRIBUTES TO STUART 199 

In 1891, the 'Teteran Cavalry Association of 
the Army of Northern Virginia" was organized 
for the purpose of marking the grave of General 
Stuart with a suitable monument; but it was 
afterwards decided that, with the aid of the city 
of Richmond, the association would erect an 
equestrian statue. The city donated the site on 
Monument avenue, near the equestrian statue 
of General Lee, and also contributed a large 
sum of money, so that the association was 
enabled to erect the statue. 

The sculptor, Mr. Fred Moynihan, designed 
and executed a statue, which is an excellent 
likeness of General Stuart and a striking 
example of the sculptor's skill. In 1907, the 
memorial was unveiled in the presence of an 
immense concourse of people, including large 
numbers of veterans from all parts of the South. 
Chief among the guests of honor were Miss Mary 
Custis Lee, Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, and Mrs. 
J. E. B. Stuart. 

Fully ten thousand men marched in the 
column which took over an hour to pass a 
given point. Veterans who were too feeble to 
endure the fatigue of the march went early to 
the monument, and joined the great multitude 
that crowded the sidewalks and even the house- 
tops. 



200 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

When the parade reached the monument, the 
crowd was so dense that it was with difficulty 
that the poHce made way for the orator and 
distinguished guests. The multitude was called 
to order by Major Andrew R. Venable, of 
Farmville, Virginia, a member of the staff of 
General Stuart, who introduced Rev. Walter Q. 
HuUihen, of Staunton, Virginia, another member 
of Stuart's staff, who made the dedicatory 
prayer. Major Venable then introduced the 
orator of the day. Judge Theodore S. Garnett 
of Norfolk, Virginia, another member of the 
staff of General Stuart. 

It was indeed a remarkable incident that 
three of General Stuart's staff officers presided 
at the unveiling of his statue forty-three years 
after his death. 

Judge Garnett in an eloquent speech reviewed 
the life and campaigns of Stuart, paying glowing 
tributes to the general, to the ' 'ever-glorious 
and gallant" Stuart Horse Artillery, and to his 
comrades of Mosby's Battalion. He closed 
with these words: 'To the city of Richmond, as 
its faithful guardian, we commit this monument, 
in whose care and keeping it will henceforth 
stand in token of a people's gratitude and in 
perpetual memory of his heroic name." 

The veil was then drawn from the monument 




STUART STATUE 
On Monument Avenue, Richmond, Va, 

[201 1 



202 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

by the hand of httle Virginia Stuart Waller, 
General Stuart's granddaughter. As the canvas 
fell from the heroic figure of General Stuart 
mounted on his powerful horse, the guns of the 
Howitzers boomed a salute and the cheering 
of the vast throng arose in billows of sound. 
'^Stuart was again riding with Lee/' 



SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS 

Chapter I 

Give three incidents to prove that Stuart inherited his 
spirit of patriotism and devotion to duty. 

Tell an interesting story connected with his grand- 
mother, Bethenia Letcher Pannill. 

What do you know of Stuart's life at Laurel Hill? 

Tell what you can about his early education. 

Give an account of his life at West Point. 

What do you know of his religious feelings and con- 
victions? 

Tell about his choice of a profession and his equipment 
for it. 

Chapter II 

How did Stuart win distinction in his first miHtary 
service? 

What good quaUties for a soldier and leader did he 
show in this adventure? 

What two events of deep personal interest happened to 
Stuart in the fall of 1855? 

Tell about the political trouble in Kansas at this time. 

Who was ''Ossawatomie" Brown? 

Tell about Stuart's being wounded in a fight with 
Indians. 

What quaUties did he show in leading the party back 
to Fort Kearny? 

What was the reason for his visit to Washington in 
1859? 

[ 203 ] 



204 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

What interesting and important outcome did this visit 
have? 

What feehngs were aroused in the country by the 
John Brown Raid and the hanging of Brown? 

Chapter III 

What was Stuart's first cavalry commission under the 
Confederate government? 

What kind of troops did he have, and what was his 
work? 

Tell about his wonderful capture at Falling Waters. 

What did General Joseph E. Johnston say about 
Stuart? 

Tell about Stuart's part in the First Battle of Manassas. 

Tell about the visits paid Stuart by his family at his 
outpost near Washington. 

What did General Longstreet write President Davis 
about Stuart? 

Chapter IV 

See if you can paint a word-picture of Stuart when he 
was made a brigadier general. 

Why did the soldiers still keep their confidence in Stuart 
after his defeat at the battle of Dranesville? 

What was the Peninsular Campaign? What was 
Stuart's part in it, up to the time that General Lee was 
made commander of the Army of Northern Virginia? 

Describe the Chickahominy Raid. Why is this raid one 
of the most wonderful cavalry achievements in history? 

Tell two interesting incidents connected with the 
capture of the Federal supply depot at the White House. 

Tell about the close of the Peninsular Campaign. 



SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS 205 

Chapter V 

What was Stuart's reward for his services in the 
Peninsular Campaign? 

Tell about the reorganization of the cavalry. 

Give an account of life at Dundee. What brought it 
to a close? 

Tell about the capture of Stuart's hat. 

Give an account of the adventure in which he "made 
the Yankees pay for that hat." 

What was Stuart's part in the Second Battle of Manas- 



Chapter VI 

Tell about the capture of Fairfax Courthouse. 

Tell a story to show how the people of this section felt 
toward General Stuart and the cause for which he fought. 

Describe the crossing of the cavalry into Maryland. 

Do you think the Maryland people were glad to 
welcome the Confederates into their State? Why? 

Tell about the ball at Urbana. 

How did the Confederates treat the Unionists in 
Frederick? 

Describe Stuart's retreat from Frederick to South 
Mountain. 

What were the principal mountain passes and why was 
it necessary for the cavalry to hold them until the capture 
of Harper's Ferry? 

What did General Jackson say about General Stuart 
at the battle of Antietam? 

How did the cavalry help General Lee to get his army 
back safely into Virginia? 

Tell about ''the girl of Williamsport." 



206 LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 

Tell about Stuart and Von Borcke's narrow escape 
from being captured on a reconnoitering expedition. 
Tell about Bob Sweeny and camp life at The Bower. 

Chapter VII 

Would you have been proud of being one of the soldiers 
chosen by Stuart to accompany him on the Chambers- 
burg Raid? Why? 

Give a brief account of the raid. 

To whom did Stuart assign all the glory and honor? 

What was the effect of the raid on the North? On the 
South? 

Why was Stuart sometimes called "Knight of the 
Golden Spurs?" 

Chapter VIII 

Tell about McClellan's campaign in the autumn of 
1862 and the retreat of the cavalry toward Culpeper. 

What exciting adventure did Stuart have at Ashby's 
Gap? 

What qualities as a man and a soldier did Stuart show 
during the illness and after the death of his "httle Flora"? 

When and how did Stuart lose a part of his mustache? 

What was the condition of Stuart's cavalry at the time 
that Burnside took McClellan's place as commander of 
the Federal army? 

Tell about the snowball fight in the Confederate camp 
at Fredericksburg. 

What part did Stuart and his cavalry take in the 
battle of Fredericksburg? 

How did Pelham, the young chief of the Stuart Horse 
Artillery, distinguish himself in this battle? 



SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS 207 

Tell about the Dumfries Raid and the joke that Stuart 
played on the Federal quartermaster at Washington. 

Tell about the friendship between Stuart and Jackson. 

What changes took place in the Federal army in the 
early spring of 1863? 

Chapter IX 

Tell about the death of young Pelham and Stuart's 
love for him. 

Give an account of Stuart's encounters with the 
Federal cavalry just before the battle of Chancellorsville. 

How did Stuart and his cavalry assist Jackson in 
surprising the Federal left flank? 

When Jackson was wounded, what did he say about 
Stuart? 

How did Stuart fulfill Jackson's trust? 

Tell about Stoneman's raid and its result. 

Chapter X 

Describe the Culpeper cavalry review. 

Draw a diagram showing how the Federals gave Stuart 
a double surprise in the battle of Fleetwood Hill, or 
Brandy Station, attacking him from both the front and 
the rear. 

Describe the final combat for the possession of the hill. 

Chapter XI 

Why did Lee's plan prevent Stuart's following up 
Pleasanton's retreat? 

Why did not Stuart follow the route of the remainder 



LIFE or J. E. B. STUART 

of the army when he started into Pennsylvania to join 
Early at York? 

Descri])e his march from Seneca Ford to Carlisle. 

In the light of what he knew, would it have been wise 
for Stuart to abandon his captured wagons? Give a 
reason for your opinion. 

How long did his saving the wagons delay his march? 

Do you think that he would have kept the wagons if 
he had known what was happening at Gettysburg? 

What part did Stuart and his cavalry take in the third 
day's battle? 

Tell about the work of Stuart and his cavalry in covering 
the retreat of General Lee's army. 

Tell the incident about Stuart and the hard-boiled 
eggs. Explain his conduct on this occasion. 

Chapter XII 

Tell about General Lee's position and Stuart's en- 
counter with Buford and Kilpatrick at Jack's Shop. 

What was the ''Bristoe Campaign?" 

Tell how Stuart drove the Federals a second time from 
Fleetwood Hill. 

What narrow escape did Stuart and his cavalry have 
near Catlett's Station? 

Tell about Virginia Pelham Stuart. 

What northern general took command of all the Federal 
armies in the spring of 1864? 

Tell about the Battle of the Wilderness. What interest- 
ing anecdote is told about Stuart when he was on his 
way to this battle? 

Tell about the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. ^ 



SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS 209 

How did General Stuart try to save Major McClellan 
from danger in this battle? 

Describe the cavalry raid that General Grant planned 
in order to take Richmond. 

How did Stuart beat Sheridan in the race to Yellow 
Tavern? 

Tell about Stuart's being wounded and borne from 
the field. 

What was his last command to his men? 

What impressed you most when you read the account 
of Stuart's death? 

Why is such a death as this glorious and inspiring? 

Repeat the Unes from *'Horatius" that apply to the 
death of Stuart. 

Chapter XIII 

What tribute did Fitz Lee pay his dead commander? 

What private and public tributes were paid by General 
Robert E. Lee? 

How did the city of Richmond show her grief at the 
time of Stuart's death? 

What later tributes has she given to her hero and 
defender? 



THE ORGANIZATION OF AN ARMY 



The Federal and Confederate armies in the War of Secession 
were organized in practically the same way. There were a few 
points of difference, and in active service the numbers and arrange- 
ment of military forces varied and were changed. 

INFANTRY 

Squad: any small number of men, usually 7, under command of 
a corporal. 

Platoon: a subdivision, usually half, of a company under a lieu- 
tenant. 

Company: from 83 to 125 men under a captain. 

Battalion: 2 or more, usually four, companies under a major. 

Regiment: 10 companies — or 3 battalions of 4 companies each — 
under a colonel cr a lieutenant-colonel. 

Brigade: 3 to 5 regiments under a brigadier-general. 

Division: 2 to 5 brigades under a major-general. 

Army corps: 2 or more divisions under a major-general or a lieu- 
tenant-general, — organized as a complete army and sufficient 
in itself for all the operations of war. 

CAVALRY 

Squad: any small number of men, usually 7, under a corporal. 
Platoon: a sub-division, usually half, of a company under a lieu- 
tenant. 
Troop: 2 to 6 platoons, 76 to 100 men, under a captain.^ 
Squadron: 2 to 4 troops under a senior captain or a major. 
Regiment: 10 troops — or 4 to 6 squadrons — under a colonel. 
Brigade: 3 or 4 regiments under a brigadier-general. 
Division: 2 to 4 brigades under a major-general. 

ARTILLERY 

Battery: usually 144 men with 4 guns and 2 howitzers, under a 

captain. 
Battalion: 3 to 4 batteries under a major. 
Regiment: 2 to 8 battalions under a colonel. 

When infantry regiments are combined into brigades, brigades 
into divisions, and divisions into army corps, — cavalry, artillery, 
and certain other auxiliary troops, such as engineers, signal corps, 
etc., are joined with them in such proportions as are necessary. 
Every unit, from the company up, has its own supply and ammuni- 
tion wagons, field hospitals, etc. 

[210 1 



WORD LIST 



Ab o li'tion party: a politi- 
cal party, founded by 
Garrison about 183^3, the 
object of which was to 
free all slaves in the 
United States. 

ad van§e': forward move- 
ment of a military force. 

advance guard : troops 
which march in front, in 
order to secure a military 
force against surprise. 

aid'-de-camp: an officer 
who assists a general by 
sending orders, collect- 
ing information, etc. 

aide: a military or naval 
officer who assists a su- 
perior officer. 

A pa'che: a warlike Indian 
tribe originally located 
in New Mexico and Ari- 
zona. 

ar'senal: a place for the 
storage or manufacture 
of arms and military 
equipment. 

ar til'ler y : cannon, large or 
small; that branch of the 



service which handles the 
cannon. 

as sault': attack of a mili- 
tary force on the works 
or position of an enemy, 
in the effort to carry it 
by a single charge. 

base: a place from which 
the operations of an 
army proceed, forward 
movements are made, 
suppHes are furnished, 
etc. 

bat tarion: See page 210. 

bat'tery: Seepage 210. 

biv'ouac (-wak) : a tempo- 
rary encampment of 
soldiers, usually without 
tents. 

bri gade': See page 210. 

brunt: the shock of an at- 
tack or onset. 

buoy'ant: cheerful, light- 
hearted. 

cais'son: a strong four- 
wheeled wagon, consist- 
ing of two parts, the 
body and the limber, 



[ 211 



212 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



that carries ammunition 
chests or boxes. 

can'is ter : cannon shot 
consisting of a metal 
cy Under which bursts 
when fired, discharging 
the bullets with which it 
is filled. 

car 'bine: a short, light 
rifle used chiefly by 
cavalry. 

cas'ca bel: a knob or pro- 
jection in the rear of the 
breech of a muzzle-load- 
ing cannon. 

cav'al ry: that part of the 
army consisting of 
mounted soldiers. 

Chey enne': an Indian 
tribe formerly inhabiting 
South Dakota, Wyoming, 
and Nevada. 

commandant': the com- 
manding officer of a place 
or of a body of men. 

com'pa ny: See page 210. 

corps (cor) : See page 210. 

comi'ter movement: a 
movement by which a 
body of troops marches 
back over ground it has 
recently occupied or 
marched over. 



cul'mi nat ed : 

final result. 



reached a 



di vi'sion: See page 210. 

encamped: formed a 
camp. 

en trench': fortify with de- 
fensive works as with a 
trench or ditch and a 
wall. 

en trench'ments: fortifi^ 
cations consisting of a 
parapet of earth and the 
ditch or trench from 
which the earth was 
taken. 

flank: the side of an army, 
either in column or in 
line. 

grape'shot : a cluster of iron 
balls arranged in an iron 
framework to be dis- 
charged from a cannon. 
Formerly grapeshot was 
inclosed in a canvas bag 
so quilted as to look like 
a bunch of grapes. 

gui'dons: small flags car- 
ried by cavalry and field 
artillery. 



WORD LIST 



213 



hSv'er sack : a bag or case 
in which a soldier carries 
provisions on a march. 

Hora'tius: a hero of 
ancient Rome who with 
two others defended the 
bridge across the Tiber 
against an advancing 
army. Read Lord 

Macaulay's poem ^'Ho- 
ratius." 

how'itz er : a cannon for 
throwing shells. 

im'mi nent: threatening; 
dangerous and close at 
hand. 

in dom'i ta ble : unyield- 
ing; unconquerable. 

fn'fan try: foot soldiers 
armed with rifles and 
bayonets ; one of the three 
chief divisions of an 
army, the other two being 
cavalry and artillery. 

in vest'ing: surrounding 
with troops; laying siege 
to. 

ir rep'a ra ble: not capable 
of being repaired or reme- 
died. 

ISr'i at: a long, small rope 
used for catching or 



for picketing cattle or 
horses. 
lim'ber: the fore part of a 
gun carriage, consisting 
of a chest mounted on 
two wheels and having a 
pole for the horses. See 
caisson. 



ma neu'vers: movements 
or changes of position of 
troops or war-vessels for 
tactical purposes or for 
display. 

marines': naval troops; 
soldiers serving on war- 
vessels. 

mar'tiallaw: the military 
administration which 
when proclaimed takes 
the place of civil law in 
time of war or disorder. 

mil'i ta ry law: the laws by 
which an army and its 
affairs are governed. 
Military law differs 
from martial law in that 
the former is a perma- 
nent code for the govern- 
ment of the army and 
the latter is the applica- 
tion of the laws of war 



214 



LIFE OF J. E. B. STUART 



to all the people in a 
certain district. 
mine: an explosive charge, 
sunken in the earth or 
under water, for the pur- 
pose of destroying an 
enemy passing over it, — 
formerly exploded by 
contact or by a fuse, but 
now usually exploded by 
electricity. 



ordinance ; 

phes. 



military sup- 



ensign in battle, especial- 
ly the ancient royal ban- 
ner of France. 
out'post: a post or station 
outside the limits of a 
camp, for observation or 
to guard against surprise. 

pa roled': set at liberty on 
parole, or word of honor 
not to bear arms against 
the captors. 

per'emp to ry: authorita- 
tive; not admitting of 
debate or question. 

pick'ets: soldiers stationed 
on the outskirts of a 



camp to warn against the 
enemy's approach. 

pikes : soldiers' weapons, 
consisting of wooden 
staves with steel points. 
In recent warfare, pikes 
have been superceded by 
bayonets. 

pla toon': See page 210. 

pon toon': a vessel, such as 
a flat-bottomed boat or a 
canvas - covered frame, 
used in the construction 
of a floating bridge. 

pre dic'a ment: a diffi- 
cult or trying condition 
or situation. 

pro'vost (vo) guard : a body 
of soldiers detailed for 
poHce duties. 

quar'ter master : a staff 
officer of a regiment or 
other body of troops, 
whose duty it is to pro- 
vide quarters, arrange 
transportation, and pro- 
vide and issue food, cloth- 
ing, and other suppHes. _ 

rank : grade of official stand- 
ing in the army or navy. 
rear guard: troops which 



WORD LIST 



215 



march in the rear of a 
body of forces in order to 
protect it. 

re con'nais sange: an ex- 
amination of territory or 
of an enemy's position 
for the purpose of gain- 
ing information,— some- 
times involving an attack 
for the purpose of dis- 
covering the enemy's 
position and strength. 

reg'iment: See page 210. 

re treat': the withdrawal, 
especially in an orderly 
manner, of troops from 
an exposed or dangerous 
position. 

rrfled: having the bore 
rifled, or grooved spirally, 
in order to give a rotary 
motion to the bullet. 

shell: a hollow projectile 
for cannon, which con- 
tains an explosive charge. 

side arms: weapons worn 
at the side or in the belt, 
as sword, pistol, bayonet, 
etc., especialh^ sword. 

Sid'ney, Sir Philip: a 



famous English soldier 
and author of the six- 
teenth century, the model 
of unselfish courage. He 
was mortally wounded in 
battle of Zulphen, in 
1586. 

si mul ta'ne ous : happen- 
ing at the same time. 

spy : a soldier not in uniform 
who penetrates the 
enemy's camp or zone of 
operations, for the pur- 
pose of gaining informa- 
tion. 

tal'ma : a style of long cape 
or cloak worn by men and 
women during the first 
half of the nineteenth 
century. 

un lim'ber ed : removed 
from the limber. See 
limber and caisson. 

Zou aves': infantry wear- 
ing a brilliant oriental 
uniform, consisting of 
leggins, baggy trousers, 
short jacket, and tas- 
selled cap or turban. 



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